The Mellen Grainte Diggers will square off against the Phillips Loggers at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Mellen is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.6 runs per game this season.
If Mellen beats Phillips with 12 runs on Tuesday, it's going to be the squad's new lucky number: they've won their past two games with that exact score. The Grainte Diggers blew past Drummond 12-1 on Thursday. The win continues a trend for the Grainte Diggers in their matchups with the Lumberjacks: they've now won four in a row.
Maleah Nortunen
| 05/14/26 @ Drummond | 11 |
| 05/12/26 vs Drummond | 9 |
| 05/05/26 vs Hurley | 6 |
| 05/04/26 @ Chequamegon | 3 |
| 05/01/26 vs Northwood/Solon Springs | 5 |
| + 7 more games |
Maleah Nortunen was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out 11 over six innings pitched. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 5.1 strikeouts per game. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-5 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last five games she's played.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kaylee Erickson, who went 1-for-4 with one triple, two RBI, and one run. Another player making a difference was Gracie Peters, who went 2-for-4 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run.
Meanwhile, Friday just wasn't the day for Phillips' offense. They came up short against Edgar on Friday, falling 10-0. The matchup marked the first time this year in which the Loggers were not able to get on the board.
Mellen now has a winning record of 8-7. As for Phillips, they have traveled a rocky road recently, having lost three of their last four contests. That's put a noticeable dent in their 13-9 record this season.
Everything went Mellen's way against Phillips when the teams last played back in April, as Mellen made off with a 15-6 victory. Will the Grainte Diggers repeat their success, or do the Loggers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
