The Norwell Knights will square off against the Heritage Patriots at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
Heritage will challenge a team with plenty of momentum: Norwell extended their winning streak to three on Tuesday. The Knights put the hurt on Mississinewa with a sharp 15-1 win. Fans of the Knights have seen this all before: every one of the games they've played this season has ended in a blowout of 6+ runs.
Cayden Cassel
| 04/15/25 @ Mississinewa | 4 |
| 05/27/24 vs Mississinewa | 1 |
| 05/04/24 @ Guerin Catholic | 9 |
Cayden Cassel made a big impact no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit over four innings pitched. What's more, he posted four strikeouts, the most he's had since back in May of 2024. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
In other batting news, Noah Schamerloh was a standout: he scored two runs while getting on base in four of his five plate appearances. Another player making a difference was Drew Graft, who went 3-for-4 with four RBI, one stolen base, and one run.
Norwell kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in six consecutive games dating back to last season.
Meanwhile, Heritage never let their opponents score on Wednesday. They blew past Fort Wayne North Side 20-0. That looming 20-0 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Patriots yet this season.
The team relied heavily on Beau Stoppenhagen, who scored three runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-3. Cameron Rauner was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
The victory made it two in a row for Heritage and bumps their season record up to 3-1. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 16.0 runs over those games. As for Norwell, their victory bumped their record up to 3-0.
Thursday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Norwell hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .361. However, it's not like Heritage struggles in that department as they've averaged .346. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
