Brillion hasn't had much luck against Valders recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Lions will welcome the Vikings at 4:30 p.m. Brillion will come into the match with an undefeated record on the line.
Brillion proved they can win big on Monday (they won by 13) and on Tuesday they proved they can win the close ones too. They had just enough and edged out Chilton 9-8. The nine-run effort marked the Lions' lowest-scoring game of the season, but in the end it didn't matter.
Amaya Brooks made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching four innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits. Brooks was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three runs, four RBI, and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kara Hedrich, who scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances. Malia Piepenburg also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Valders, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Saturday. They walked away with an 8-3 win over Kiel on Tuesday.
Like Brillion, Valders also got a great game from a two-way player: Megan Hochkammer. She struck out eight batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off five hits. Hochkammer has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in five consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple.
In other batting news, Makayla Dallas was incredible, scoring three runs and stealing five bases while going 3-for-3. Those five stolen bases gave her a new career-high. Arianna Hernandez was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI.
Valders kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Valders' victory bumped their record up to 4-2. As for Brillion, their win was their fifth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 7-0.
Both the two teams just can't seem to miss. Brillion has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 12.1 hits per game. However, it's not like Valders struggles in that department as they've been averaging only 3.5 hits. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Brillion came up short against Valders when the teams last played back in April of 2024, falling 8-3. Can the Lions avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
