The Pike Red Devils will face off against the Southport Cardinals at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Pike is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.4 runs per game this season.
Pike was handed a heart-breaking two-run defeat in their last contest, but they sure didn't let that happen against Beech Grove on Friday. The Red Devils put the hurt on the Hornets with a sharp 15-5 win. While the Red Devils didn't have the best season last year (they finished 9-17), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Lincoln Sigmund
| 04/11/25 vs Beech Grove | 3 |
| 04/10/25 vs Lawrence Central | 2 |
| 05/23/24 @ Indianapolis Crispus Attucks | 2 |
| 05/09/24 vs Lawrence North | 2 |
| 04/20/24 vs Kokomo | 2 |
Lincoln Sigmund was a standout: he scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4. Those three runs gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Rory Weaver, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4.
Pike always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .641. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Southport, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Wednesday. They walked away with a 7-2 victory over Terre Haute South Vigo on Thursday. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last four times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.
Nick Godsey made a splash no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 13 batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off four hits (and not a single walk). Godsey was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 2-for-3.
In other batting news, Robert Ludlow was incredible, going 2-for-3 with four RBI, one triple, and one stolen base. Pablo Rendon was another key player, going 1-for-2 with two stolen bases and one RBI.
Southport now has a winning record of 2-1. As for Pike, their win bumped their record up to 4-1.
Saturday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Pike has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .503. However, it's not like Southport struggles in that department as they've averaged .455. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Pike might still be hurting after the 14-0 loss they got from Southport when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Red Devils avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
