Meridian is a perfect 3-0 against Nokomis since May of 2022 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Thursday. The Hawks will take on the Redskins at 4:30 p.m. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Meridian has three straight wins, Nokomis has three straight defeats), but none of that matters once you're on the field.
Meridian barely beat Maroa-Forsyth the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Hawks were the clear victors by a 6-0 margin over the Trojans on Wednesday. The Hawks might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 13 matchups by six runs or more this season.
Ashley Schelling
| 05/14/25 vs Maroa-Forsyth | 11 |
| 05/12/25 @ Williamsville | 9 |
| 05/10/25 vs Marshall | 9 |
| 05/09/25 @ Shelbyville | 8 |
| 05/07/25 vs Champaign Central | 7 |
| + 5 more games |
The result came thanks to Ashley Schelling's shutout, as she gave up just two hits and racked up 11 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in ten consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Meridian's victory was truly a team effort as seven different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Julia Meisenhelter, who went 2-for-3 with one run and one double. Another was Madi Kapchinske, who went 1-for-2 with one run and one RBI.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Meridian kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least 11 hits in three consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Nokomis lost 12-6 to New Berlin/Franklin/Waverly on Wednesday.
Maddison DeWerff was cooking despite her team's loss, firing off two home runs and five RBI while going 2-for-3. Those home runs marked the first that she has launched this season.
Nokomis' loss dropped their record down to 4-17. As for Meridian, their win bumped their record up to 23-6.
Nokomis' pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Meridian has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .440. It's a different story for Nokomis, though, as they've only averaged .343. Will they be able to contain Meridian's hitters?
Everything went Meridian's way against Nokomis when the teams last played back in May of 2024, as Meridian made off with a 7-1 victory. Do the Hawks have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Redskins turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
