Metamora hasn't had much luck against Dunlap recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Redbirds will be playing at home against the Eagles at 7:00 p.m. The two teams are strolling into their matchups after big wins in their previous games.
Metamora had to skate by with only a one-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the 11-run drubbing they dealt Illinois Valley Central on Thursday. The Redbirds blew past the Grey Ghosts 12-1. The high-scoring performance was a welcome turnaround for the Redbirds' hitters, who had struggled in the games prior.
Cooper Weyant
| 05/14/26 @ Illinois Valley Central | 0 |
| 05/08/26 @ Streator | 2 |
| 05/01/26 @ Lincoln | 1 |
| 04/25/26 vs Moline | 2 |
Cooper Weyant looked comfortable as he pitched 1.1 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Cole Smith was a standout: he went 2-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. Another player making a difference was Gavin Geier, who went 3-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and two RBI.
Metamora kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Illinois Valley Central only managed five.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Dunlap, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Wednesday. They were the clear victors by a 10-1 margin over Illinois Valley Central on Friday. Considering the Eagles have won 11 games by more than five runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Tristan Pittenger looked comfortable as he tossed four innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Gavin Gibbs, who went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases, three runs, and one double. Those three runs gave him a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Eli Michanicou, who went 1-for-3 with three stolen bases and two runs.
Metamora is on a roll lately: they've won 12 of their last 14 contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 22-6 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.4 runs on average over those games. As for Dunlap, their victory bumped their record up to 24-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Metamora has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.3 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Dunlap struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 8.3 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Metamora couldn't quite finish off Dunlap when the teams last played back in May of 2025 and fell 6-4. Can the Redbirds avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
