The Momence Momence Athletics will square off against the Grant Park Dragons at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Momence is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.9 runs per game this season.
Things were looking good for Momence after they put the first runs on the board last Tuesday, but unfortunately for them things went downhill from there. They fell 10-5 to Gardner-South Wilmington. The loss continues a trend for the Momence Athletics in their meetings with the Panthers: they've now lost three in a row.
Nick Charbonneau
| 04/08/25 vs Gardner-South Wilmington | 2 |
| 04/01/25 @ Iroquois West | 1 |
| 03/28/25 vs Peotone | 1 |
| 03/27/25 vs Clifton Central | 1 |
| 03/25/25 @ Clifton Central | 1 |
| 03/22/25 @ Dwight | 1 |
Nick Charbonneau was cooking despite his team's loss, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances. He has been hot, having posted at least one stolen base the last six times he's played. Another player making a difference was Jackson Ford, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Grant Park). They blew past Cissna Park 21-1 on Wednesday. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Dragons considering their two-run performance the game before.
Aiden Overbeek made a splash while hitting and pitching. He didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out seven over four innings pitched. Those seven strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three runs and four RBI.
In other batting news, Seth Muehe was incredible, going 2-for-5 with eight RBI and two runs. Those eight RBI gave him a new career-high. Nolan Olthoff was another key player, scoring five runs while getting on base in all five of his plate appearances.
Grant Park always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .610. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Momence's defeat dropped their record down to 2-5. As for Grant Park, the win got them back to even at 4-4.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Momence has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.4 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Grant Park struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Everything went Momence's way against Grant Park in their previous meeting back in May of 2024, as Momence made off with a 15-5 victory. Will the Momence Athletics repeat their success, or do the Dragons have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
