Baseball Game Preview: Lincoln-Way West Warriors vs. Lincoln-Way Central Knights

For the second straight game, Lincoln-Way West will face off against Lincoln-Way Central. The Warriors will venture away from home to challenge the Knights at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Lincoln-Way West is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.5 runs per game this season.

Lincoln-Way West is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Illinois' top teams: Lincoln-Way Central, who was ranked 16th at the time (Lincoln-Way West was ranked ninth). The Warriors narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past the Knights 4-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Warriors have posted since April 26th.

Conor Essenburg

Batters Struck Out

05/14/25 vs Lincoln-Way Central	9
05/05/25 vs Andrew	12
04/28/25 vs Bradley-Bourbonnais	9
04/21/25 @ Homewood-Flossmoor	11
04/14/25 @ Lincoln-Way East	11
+ 3 more games

Conor Essenburg was a major factor no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out nine batters over five innings while giving up just two earned runs off five hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in eight consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two RBI, one run, and one double.

In other pitching news, Tyler Bartley looked comfortable as he tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. He has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in six consecutive appearances.

Essenburg wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Jackson Mansker, who went 1-for-2 with one RBI.

Lincoln-Way West has been performing well recently as they've won seven of their last nine contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 21-7 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.3 runs on average over those games. As for Lincoln-Way Central, their defeat dropped their record down to 15-9.