The Indianapolis Shortridge Blue Devils will head out on the road to challenge the Muncie Burris Owls at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. Indianapolis Shortridge has given up an average of 13.8 runs per game this season, but Saturday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Indianapolis Shortridge is headed into Saturday's contest looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their fourth straight game on Thursday. They came up short against Irvington Preparatory Academy, falling 13-4.
Indianapolis Shortridge saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Jeremiah Edmondson, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Those RBI marked the first that Edmondson has brought in this season.
Meanwhile, Muncie Burris beat Elwood 15-11 on Friday. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Owls.
Nicolas Bontzek and Beau Edmonds made a splash no matter where they played. On the mound, Bontzek tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Meanwhile, Edmonds struck out six batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and nine unearned) runs off seven hits. Bontzek has become a key player for Muncie Burris: the team is 2-1 when he allows at most two hits, but 5-8 otherwise. At bat, Bontzek went 2-for-4 with three RBI, one triple, and one run, while Edmonds went 1-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base. Edmonds has been hot, having posted at least one stolen base the last six times he's played.
In other batting news, Solomon Muliiira and Parker Evans did most of the damage at the plate: Muliiira got on base in three of his five plate appearances with two stolen bases and three runs, while Evans got on base in three of his five plate appearances with two runs, one double, and one RBI. Evans is becoming a predictor of Muncie Burris' success: when he posts at least two runs the team is undefeated (and 4-9 when he doesn't). Mitchell Guy was another key player, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run.
Indianapolis Shortridge's loss dropped their record down to 2-10. As for Muncie Burris, their record is now 7-9.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Saturday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Indianapolis Shortridge has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.3 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Muncie Burris struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 6.9 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Indianapolis Shortridge might still be hurting after the 10-0 defeat they got from Muncie Burris when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Blue Devils avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
