The Hartford Orioles will challenge the Grafton Black Hawks at 4:45 p.m. on Friday. Hartford will be looking to extend their current four-game winning streak.
Hartford came out on top against Port Washington on Wednesday thanks in part to the team's impressive seven-run fifth inning. The Orioles put the hurt on the Pirates with a sharp 12-5 victory. Considering the Orioles have won four contests by more than six runs this season, Wednesday's blowout was nothing new.
Brady Helms
| 04/23/25 @ Port Washington | 3 |
| 04/19/25 @ Oconomowoc | 2 |
| 04/08/25 @ Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 2 |
| 05/22/24 @ Watertown | 2 |
| 04/17/25 vs West Bend West | 1 |
Brady Helms was incredible, going 3-for-5 with three RBI, one run, and one double. Those three RBI gave him a new career-high. Adian Kolb was another key player, getting on base in three of his six plate appearances with three runs.
While Grafton didn't have the best season last year (they finished 13-16), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They came out on top in a nail-biter against West Bend West on Wednesday, sneaking past 4-3. The win continues a trend for the Black Hawks in their matchups with the Spartans: they've now won five in a row.
Grafton's victory was truly a team effort as seven different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Sam Cameranesi, who went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Another was Zachary Plier, who went 2-for-4 with two runs.
Hartford's win was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 6-4. The road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.3 runs over those games. As for Grafton, their win bumped their record up to 6-3.
Friday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Hartford hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .321. However, it's not like Grafton struggles in that department as they've averaged .338. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Hartford was able to grind out a solid victory over Grafton in their previous matchup back in May of 2024, winning 3-0. Will the Orioles repeat their success, or do the Black Hawks have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
