The Donovan Wildcats will challenge the Hoopeston Cornjerkers at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
On Tuesday, Donovan got the win against Momence by a conclusive 12-2. The Wildcats haven't had any issues with the Momence Athletics recently, as the game was their third consecutive victory against them.
Laylah Lou Walters spent all six innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and one unearned) run on six hits and racked up seven Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in four consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Madelyn Loy, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, two doubles, and one stolen base. Those two doubles gave her a new career-high. Jenna Schermann was another key player, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Hoopeston, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Monday. They narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past Milford 8-7. The victory was some much needed relief for the Cornjerkers as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.
Maddie Barnes made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out nine batters over seven innings while giving up four earned (and three unearned) runs off ten hits (and only one walk). Barnes was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with one run and one double.
In other batting news, Peyton Irons was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run and three RBI. That home run marked the first that she has launched this season. Another player making a difference was Khloe Brewer, who went 2-for-3 with two runs.
Hoopeston kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Hoopeston's win was their first in the conference, bumping their conference record up to 1-3 and their overall record up to 5-7. As for Donovan, their victory bumped their record up to 4-8.
Donovan might still be hurting after the 16-6 defeat they got from Hoopeston when the teams last played back in March of 2024. Will the Wildcats have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
