For the second straight game, Portage will face off against Merrillville. The Indians will head out on the road to challenge the Pirates at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Portage has seven straight wins, Merrillville has six straight losses), but none of that matters once you're on the field.
While Portage didn't have the best season last year (they finished 12-15), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They were the clear victors by a 14-1 margin over Merrillville on Tuesday. Considering the Indians have won four games by more than eight runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Kodie Young
| 04/15/25 vs Merrillville | 6 |
| 04/08/25 @ Michigan City | 4 |
| 04/05/25 @ Hebron | 5 |
| 05/15/24 @ Chesterton | 2 |
| 05/08/24 @ Lake Central | 5 |
| + 4 more games |
Kodie Young made a splash while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out six over four innings pitched. That's the most strikeouts he has posted since back in April of 2024. He was also big at the plate, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances. He also hit a double, marking his first of the season.
In other batting news, Dylan Pezel was incredible, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-2. Those hits marked the first that he got this season. Another player making a difference was Mason Conrad, who scored a run while getting on base in two of his three plate appearances.
Portage always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .613. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Merrillville only posted an OBP of .158.
Portage's victory was their fourth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 7-0. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.3 runs over those games. As for Merrillville, their defeat dropped their record down to 0-5.
Merrillville's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Portage has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .502. It's a different story for Merrillville, though, as they've only averaged .317. Will they be able to contain Portage's hitters? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
