Softball Game Preview: Whiting Oilers vs. Morgan Township Cherokees

The Whiting Oilers will venture away from home to square off against the Morgan Township Cherokees at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Whiting is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 11 runs per game this season.

Whiting took a 16-run defeat the last time they faced off against Hammond Bishop Noll, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Oilers skirted past the Warriors 9-7. While the Oilers didn't have the best season last year (they finished 3-15), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.

Brennan Bannister made a splash no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching seven innings while giving up seven earned runs off four hits. Bannister was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run.

In other batting news, Whiting got a big performance out of Aliyah Vianello, who went 2-for-3 with one run, one double, and one RBI. Arianna Vianello was another key player, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with two runs.

Whiting kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post 11 or more hits.

Meanwhile, Morgan Township lost 12-2 to Boone Grove on Monday. The Cherokees have struggled against the Wolves recently, as the game was their sixth consecutive lost meeting.

Whiting's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 6-4. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 15.0 runs over those games. As for Morgan Township, their loss dropped their record down to 4-7.

Whiting suffered a grim 15-5 defeat to Morgan Township in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Can the Oilers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.