The Logansport Berries are taking a road trip to take on the Western Panthers at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The last three games Logansport has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
On Saturday, Logansport didn't have quite enough to beat Norwell and fell 6-5.
Josh Middleton was a force to be reckoned with on the mound despite the final result: he tossed 6.2 innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off seven hits. Furthermore, he didn't allow a single walk, the first time he has blanked an opponent since back in May of 2024.
On the hitting side, Deagan Kitchel made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and went 3-for-5 with three runs and two doubles. Hudson Mckinney also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Meanwhile, Western came tearing into Friday's contest with four straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 5 runs), and they left with even more momentum. Everything went their way against the Cougars as they made off with a 12-1 victory. The result was nothing new for the Panthers, who have now won five matchups by seven runs or more so far this season.
Gavin Denton made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Denton was also big at the plate, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs, two RBI, and one double.
In other pitching news, Ashton Castillo looked comfortable as he tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one hit in five consecutive appearances.
Back at the plate, Kyler Norman and Braydon Miller did most of the damage at the plate: Norman went a perfect 2-for-2 with three stolen bases, two runs, and one double, while Miller went a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base. Another player making a difference was Cal Berryman, who got on base in two of his three plate appearances with two runs and one RBI.
Western always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .607. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their OBP total in three consecutive games.
Logansport's defeat dropped their record down to 5-3. As for Western, their win was their 12th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 9-1.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Tuesday as neither team is afraid to steal. Logansport has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.8 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Western struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 3.5 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Logansport came up short against Western when the teams last played back in April of 2024, falling 11-7. Can the Berries avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
