Softball Game Preview: East Central Trojans vs. Whiteland Warriors

The East Central Trojans will challenge the Whiteland Warriors at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. East Central is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.8 runs per game this season.

East Central is headed into Tuesday's match looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their third straight game on Saturday. They took a 6-2 hit to the loss column at the hands of Greenfield-Central.

Paige Hotze spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and three unearned) runs on 11 hits and racked up eight Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 11 consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, Delaney Donawerth made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 3-for-4 with two RBI.

Meanwhile, while Whiteland put up plenty of runs on Wednesday, the same can't be said for Mooresville. The Warriors were the clear victors by a 14-0 margin over the Pioneers. That looming 14-0 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Warriors yet this season.

Whiteland's win was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 15-8. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.0 runs over those games. As for East Central, their defeat dropped their record down to 16-9.

East Central skirted past Whiteland 2-1 in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Will the Trojans repeat their success, or do the Warriors have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.