Valparaiso had already proven themselves in the regular season and they didn't miss a beat now that it's playoff time. They were the clear victors by a 16-2 margin over the Portage Indians on Monday. Considering the Vikings have won 16 games by more than six runs this season, Monday's blowout was nothing new.
Caden Crowell made a splash no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out eight batters over five innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off three hits (and not a single walk). He has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in seven consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
In other batting news, Adler Holtz was a standout: he went a perfect 2-for-2 with one home run, six RBI, and two runs. Those six RBI gave him a new career-high. Maximus Reaume was another key player, firing off two home runs and three RBI while going 3-for-4.
Valparaiso lost a few balls and finished the game with four home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.
Vikings
| 06/02/25 vs Portage | 16-2 |
| 05/30/25 vs Hobart | 14-4 |
| 05/22/25 @ Chesterton | 12-5 |
| 05/20/25 vs Chesterton | 10-2 |
| 05/19/25 @ Highland | 13-3 |
| + 11 more games |
The victory was the 16th in a row for Valparaiso, bringing their record up to 22-5. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.4 runs on average over those games. As for Portage, their loss dropped their record down to 13-13-2.
Looking ahead, Valparaiso will face off against Crown Point on Saturday. The Vikings' pitchers better be ready for this one: the Bulldogs have averaged an impressive 8.7 runs per game this season. Portage does not have any more games scheduled as of now.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
