Maumee has won three straight games at home, while Central Catholic has won three straight on the road, but those streaks won't matter much on Thursday. The Panthers will host the Fighting Irish at 6:00 p.m. Maumee is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9 runs per game this season.
Maumee barely beat Southview the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Panthers blew past the Cougars 17-3 on Monday. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Panthers considering their two-run performance the contest before.
Hannah Ruiz was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She pitched five innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off four hits. Ruiz was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
In other batting news, Reign Hurt was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with four RBI, two doubles, and one run. That's the most doubles she has posted since back in April of 2024. Another player making a difference was Brynn Maier, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs and three RBI.
Meanwhile, Central Catholic posted their closest win since April 29th on Friday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past Lumen Christi Catholic 3-2.
Ella Schuberg spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on six hits and racked up nine Ks. She has been consistent: she hasn't tossed less than eight strikeouts in five consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Maeley Bragg, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base and one run. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last four games she's played. Milla Bragg was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and one double.
Central Catholic has been performing well recently as they've won 11 of their last 13 matches. That's provided a nice bump to their 18-9 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.5 runs on average over those games. As for Maumee, their victory bumped their record up to 15-11.
Thursday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Maumee has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .464. However, it's not like Central Catholic struggles in that department as they've averaged .437. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Maumee's way against Central Catholic when the teams last played back in April of 2024, as Maumee made off with a 21-6 win. Will the Panthers repeat their success, or do the Fighting Irish have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
