Boilermakers
| 04/01/25 vs Plainfield South | 6 |
| 03/26/25 vs Cottonwood | 8 |
| 03/26/25 vs Brewer | 15 |
| 03/25/25 vs Paragould | 17 |
| + 2 more games |
Bradley-Bourbonnais is 0-3 against Normal West since May of 2018 but things could change on Saturday. The Boilermakers will challenge the Wildcats at 10:00 a.m. Bradley-Bourbonnais is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7 runs per game this season.
While Bradley-Bourbonnais' win against Plainfield South wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Boilermakers had just enough and edged out the Cougars 6-5 on Tuesday. While the Boilermakers didn't have the best season last year (they finished 15-20), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Mason Shaul and Cody Freitas did most of the damage at the plate: Shaul scored two runs and stole two bases while going 2-for-2, while Freitas went 2-for-4 with one home run, one stolen base, and two RBI. Shaul also launched a home run, marking his first of the season. Jace Boudreau was another key player, scoring a run while going 2-for-3.
They weren't the only ones working in the home run department: Bradley-Bourbonnais lost a few balls and finished the game with two home runs. That's the most home runs they've posted since back in April of 2024.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Normal West, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Monday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past Centennial 9-7.
Torin DeLaere was a standout: he went 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Chase Knuth, who scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.
Normal West's win was their fourth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 7-2. They've had to fight for that success though, as they only beat their opponents by an average of 1.25 runs across that stretch. As for Bradley-Bourbonnais, the victory made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 5-2.
Normal West's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Bradley-Bourbonnais hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .321. It's a different story for Normal West, though, as they've only averaged .246. Will they be able to contain Bradley-Bourbonnais' hitters?
Bradley-Bourbonnais suffered a grim 8-1 defeat to Normal West when the teams last played back in May of 2024. Can the Boilermakers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
