The Crete Cardinals will head out to challenge the Lakeview Vikings at 6:30 p.m. on Monday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Crete 3.1, Lakeview 3.7) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Things were looking good for Crete after they put the first run on the board on Saturday, but unfortunately for them things went downhill from there. They took a 7-3 hit to the loss column at the hands of Elkhorn North. The Cardinals have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Hayley Mattox made the most of her time in the batter's box despite the final result and went a perfect 2-for-2 with one triple and two RBI. That triple marked the first that she has hit this season. Kacey Dunaway was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one triple and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Lakeview came tearing into Saturday's matchup with six straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 5.3 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 5-4 W against the Bulldogs.
Cali Bentz made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 16 batters over ten innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off five hits (and not a single walk). She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in 16 consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in five of her six plate appearances with one RBI.
In other batting news, Kammi Tomky was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run. Those three hits gave her a new career-high.
Lakeview kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 5.1 hits per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 contests they've averaged 9.2.
Lakeview's record now sits at 13-5. As for Crete, their defeat dropped their record down to 20-5.
Both the two teams just can't seem to miss. Crete has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.3 hits per game. However, it's not like Lakeview struggles in that department as they've been averaging only 3.9 hits. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Crete's way against Lakeview in their previous meeting back in October of 2024, as Crete made off with a 14-0 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Cardinals since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
