The Wheeler Bearcats will face off against the Munster Mustangs at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Wheeler came out on top against Morgan Township on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive four-run sixth inning. The Bearcats took their contest against the Cherokees 6-2.
Caleb McLaughlin
| 04/17/25 @ Kouts | 5 |
| 04/22/25 @ Hammond Bishop Noll | 4 |
| 04/28/25 @ River Forest | 3 |
| 05/05/25 @ Lake Station Edison | 2 |
| 04/03/25 @ Washington Township | 2 |
| + 1 more games |
Caleb McLaughlin spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned (and one unearned) run on three hits. He has become a key player for Wheeler: the team is 2-1 when he allows at most one earned run, but 6-10 otherwise.
At the plate, Nick Micciche was excellent, going 2-for-3 with two runs and one triple. That's the most hits he has posted since back in May of 2024. Another player making a difference was Christian Cutka, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Munster never got on the board in their matchup on Tuesday, but that sure wasn't the case in their game against Merrillville on Thursday. They walked away with a 12-9 win over the Pirates. The victory continues a trend for the Mustangs in their matchups with the Pirates: they've now won four in a row.
Swinson Oliver tossed a big game, not allowing a single earned run while striking out nine over 6.2 innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up a single earned run in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Mason Jarrett, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with two stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI. Niko Iatrides was another key player, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base.
Munster's win bumped their record up to 11-7. As for Wheeler, their victory bumped their record up to 8-11.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Wheeler has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.3 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Munster struggles in that department as they've been averaging 2.7 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Wheeler suffered a grim 13-0 defeat to Munster when the teams last played back in May of 2024. Will the Bearcats have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
