Peotone hasn't had much luck against Manteno recently, but that could start to change on Monday. Peotone will head out on the road to take on Manteno at 4:30 p.m. Peotone has given up an average of 8 runs per game this season, but Monday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Peotone's last matchup with Momence could've gone either way, but unfortunately the same can't be said for the pair's game on Friday. Peotone came up short against Momence, falling 15-8.
Peotone got a good showing from Alex Chenoweth, who struck out six batters over three innings while giving up just one earned (and five unearned) runs off four hits.
At the plate, Ruben Velasco made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and got on base in four of his five plate appearances with one home run, two runs, and one double. That home run marked the first that he launched this season. Tyler Leitelt was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-5.
Even though they lost, Peotone lost a few balls and finished the game with two home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, on Saturday Manteno's undefeated season almost came to an end. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 6-5 W against Kankakee. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Panthers have posted since May 1, 2024.
The team relied heavily on Brady Hespen, who scored a run and stole three bases while getting on base in four of his five plate appearances. With that strong performance, he is now averaging an impressive 1.2 stolen bases per game. Another player making a difference was Jake Stevens, who went 1-for-4 with three RBI, one triple, and one run.
Manteno pushed their record up to 5-0 with the victory, which was their third straight at home. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.7 runs on average over those games. As for Peotone, their loss dropped their record down to 2-2.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Peotone has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.2 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Manteno struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 9.4 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Peotone suffered a grim 11-1 defeat to Manteno in their previous matchup back in March of 2024. Can Peotone avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
