The Middleton Vikings will venture away from home to face off against the Capital Golden Eagles at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Middleton's pitching crew has only allowed 2.7 runs per game this season, so Capital's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Middleton blew Vallivue out of the water the last time the pair played, but on Tuesday Vallivue got their revenge. Middleton fell just short of Vallivue by a score of 11-9. The pitching woes were uncharacteristic for the Vikings, who until this contest were averaging 2.7 runs allowed.
Natalie Miklancic and Kenadi Whitlow did some serious damage despite the final result: Miklancic went 1-for-3 with one triple, one stolen base, and two RBI, while Whitlow went 1-for-3 with one home run and three RBI. Rylee Rodriguez was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-4.
Meanwhile, Capital suffered their biggest loss since May 17, 2024 on Tuesday. They lost 11-1 to Boise. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Golden Eagles' biggest loss of the season was also their lowest-scoring.
Audrey McKibben and McKenna Chavez stepped up to the plate in a big way. McKibben scored a run and stole two bases while going 2-for-2, while Chavez went a perfect 1-for-1 with two stolen bases and one RBI.
Having lost for the first time this season, Middleton fell to 9-1. As for Capital, this is the second loss in a row for them and nudges their season record down to 7-3.
Wednesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Middleton hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .398. However, it's not like Capital struggles in that department as they've averaged .454. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Middleton was able to grind out a solid win over Capital when the teams last played back in April of 2024, winning 12-9. The rematch might be a little tougher for Middleton since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
