Softball Preview: Calumet Christian Patriots vs. Hammond Bishop Noll Warriors
The Calumet Christian Patriots will be playing at home against the Hammond Bishop Noll Warriors at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Calumet Christian will be looking to keep their eight-game home win streak dating back to last season alive.
Calumet Christian is coming in off a wild two-game stretch: after soaring to 17 runs on Thursday, they were much more limited against Chicago Christian on Monday. They fell just short of the Knights by a score of 3-1. Calumet Christian has not had much luck with Chicago Christian recently, as the team's come up short the last two times they've met.
Grace Janowski was huge no matter where she played even without the win. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out eight batters over six innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off four hits (and only one walk). Janowski was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-2 with a triple and an RBI.
Janowski wasn't the only one making solid contact as two players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Ana Makowski, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-4.
Meanwhile, Monday just wasn't the day for Hammond Bishop Noll's offense. They lost 8-0 to Illiana Christian on Monday. Hammond Bishop Noll has now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Madelynn (Maddie) Queen spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and seven unearned) runs on seven hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't pitched less than six innings in four consecutive pitching appearances.
Calumet Christian's defeat dropped their record down to 7-5. As for Hammond Bishop Noll, their loss ended a three-game streak of away wins and brought them to 10-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Calumet Christian has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Hammond Bishop Noll struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.4. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Calumet Christian was able to grind out a solid victory over Hammond Bishop Noll when the teams last played back in May of 2023, winning 10-6. Will Calumet Christian repeat their success, or does Hammond Bishop Noll have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
