Softball Preview: Highland Trojans vs. Hammond Morton Governors
Highland is 10-0 against Hammond Morton since May of 2015, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Monday. The Highland Trojans will be staying on the road to face off against the Hammond Morton Governors at 4:30 p.m. Both teams come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
In their second game on Saturday, Highland made easy work of Merrillville and carried off a 19-1 victory.
Alyssa Niemann was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She struck out six batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits (and not a single walk). Niemann was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-4.
In other batting news, Jordan Steele and Jazmine DeJesus did most of the damage at the plate: Steele scored two runs while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances, while DeJesus scored three runs while going 3-for-3. Another player making a difference was Jill Kinley, who scored three runs and stole two bases while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Meanwhile, Hammond Morton was able to grind out a solid win over Thornton Fractional South on Saturday, taking the game 12-7. The victory made it back-to-back wins for Hammond Morton.
Like Highland, Hammond Morton also got a great game from a two-way player: Julissa Abeyta. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out ten batters over seven innings while giving up seven earned runs off 13 hits (and only one walk). Abeyta has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up a single walk in four consecutive pitching appearances. Abeyta was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Analise Campos, who scored two runs while going 4-for-4. Juleeana Temores was another key contributor, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-4.
Highland's record now sits at 4-2. As for Hammond Morton, they are on a roll lately: they've won four of their last five contests, which provided a nice bump to their 4-3 record this season.
Monday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Highland has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .517. However, it's not like Hammond Morton struggles in that department as they've averaged .546. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Highland took their victory against Hammond Morton in their previous meeting back in April of 2023 by a conclusive 11-0. The rematch might be a little tougher for Highland since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
