The Minneota Vikings will face off against the Ortonville Trojans at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. The timing is sure in Minneota's favor as the squad sits on ten straight wins at home (dating back to last season) while Ortonville has been banged up by five consecutive losses on the road also dating back to last season.
Minneota's pitching crew heads into the match hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Tuesday. They blew past Renville County West 11-0. Considering the Vikings have won four contests by more than eight runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Madison Hennen
| 04/29/25 vs Renville County West | 0 |
| 04/22/25 vs Tracy-Milroy-Balaton | 1 |
| 04/17/25 vs Russell-Tyler-Ruthton | 1 |
| 04/15/25 @ Yellow Medicine East | 1 |
| 04/14/25 @ Montevideo | 1 |
| + 3 more games |
Madison Hennen was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out 13 over five innings pitched. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks any time she's pitched this season. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with one home run, six RBI, and two runs. Those two runs gave her a new career-high.
In other batting news, Joelle Otto was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBI, two runs, and one stolen base. That's the most runs she has posted since back in April of 2024. Gretta Buysse was another key player, getting on base in all three of her plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base.
Minneota always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .533. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Renville County West only posted an OBP of .118.
Meanwhile, Ortonville got the win against Dawson-Boyd on Tuesday by a conclusive 7-1.
Aubrey Zuraff tossed a big game, striking out seven batters over 6.2 innings while giving up just one earned run off nine hits (and not a single walk).
At the plate, Bailey Merrit was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and two runs. Those stolen bases marked the first that she has snagged this season. Another player making a difference was Sara Kirkeby, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run.
Ortonville's first victory this season bumped their record up to 1-7. As for Minneota, their win bumped their record up to 7-1.
Ortonville's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Thursday. Minneota has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 10.2 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Ortonville, though, as they've been averaging only 4.1 strikeouts. Will Minneota keep running through batters, or will the Trojans buck the trend?
Everything went Minneota's way against Ortonville when the teams last played back in April of 2024, as Minneota made off with a 17-0 victory. Do the Vikings have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Trojans turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
