Grant Park is 0-7 against Herscher since March of 2017 but things could change on Wednesday. The Dragons will head out to take on the Tigers at 4:30 p.m. Grant Park is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.1 runs per game this season.
Grant Park took a loss when they played away from home on Thursday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Friday. They walked away with a 7-4 win over Momence.
Nolan Olthoff
| 03/18/25 @ Manteno | 5 |
| 03/28/25 vs Cissna Park | 2 |
| 04/18/25 vs Momence | 1 |
| 04/03/25 @ Beecher | 1 |
Dean Malkowski and Nolan Olthoff made a big impact while hitting and pitching. Throwing, Malkowski pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Olthoff struck out nine batters over six innings while giving up just one earned (and three unearned) runs off six hits. He has become a key player for Grant Park: the team is 2-1 when he allows at most one earned run, but 3-4 otherwise. At bat, Malkowski went 1-for-4 with two RBI, one run, and one double, while Olthoff got on base in three of his four plate appearances with one triple and one run. That double marked the first that Malkowski has hit this season.
In other batting news, Joey McGinley was excellent, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, one run, and one double. Another player making a difference was Aiden Overbeek, who got on base in two of his four plate appearances with one stolen base and one run.
Meanwhile, Herscher has relied on a stalwart pitchers averaging three runs allowed per game, but that average took a hit on Tuesday. They came out on top against Reed-Custer by a score of 14-10. The victory was nothing new for the Tigers as they're now sitting on four straight.
Herscher let Gaige Brown and Tanner Jones run wild. Brown went 4-for-5 with three runs, three RBI, and two doubles, while Jones went 2-for-4 with three stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs. Those two doubles gave Brown a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Mason Roberts, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with three runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Herscher pushed their record up to 16-3 with the win, which was their third straight at home. As for Grant Park, the victory got them back to even at 5-5.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Wednesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Grant Park has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.2 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Herscher struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.1 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Grant Park suffered a grim 13-7 defeat to Herscher in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Can the Dragons avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
