Homestead and Carroll are an even 5-5 against one another since May of 2022, but likely not for long. The Spartans will host the Chargers at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Homestead is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.4 runs per game this season.
Homestead was handed a heart-breaking two-run loss in their last match, but they sure didn't let that happen against Fort Wayne Northrop on Saturday. The Spartans were the clear victors by an 11-2 margin over the Bruins. The Spartans haven't had any issues with the Bruins recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive victory against them.
Mason Gutmann tossed a big game, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit while striking out 13 over five innings pitched. Those 13 strikeouts gave him a new career-high.
Shane Bardwell
| 05/03/25 @ Fort Wayne Northrop | 4 |
| 04/26/25 @ South Bend Adams | 1 |
| 04/24/25 vs Norwell | 1 |
| 04/03/25 vs Avon | 1 |
| 04/03/25 vs Center Grove | 1 |
On the hitting side, Homestead got a massive performance out of Shane Bardwell, who went 1-for-3 with four stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. Those four stolen bases gave Bardwell a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Johnnie Ankenbruck, who went 1-for-4 with one home run and two stolen bases.
Homestead hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least five batters in four consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Carroll fought the good fight in their extra-innings contest against Fort Wayne Snider on Saturday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Panthers by a score of 3-2. The Chargers' defeat signaled the end of their three-game winning streak.
Carroll saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Tyler Morris, who went 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Carroll's loss dropped their record down to 10-7. As for Homestead, their win bumped their record up to 13-2.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Monday as neither team is afraid to steal. Homestead has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.1 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Carroll struggles in that department as they've been averaging 2.8 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Homestead beat Carroll 8-4 when the teams last played back in June of 2024. Do the Spartans have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Chargers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
