Lena-Winslow hasn't had much luck against Forreston recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Panthers will host the Cardinals at 4:30 p.m. Both teams are coming into the contest red-hot, with Lena-Winslow sitting on three straight victories and Forreston on ten.
Lena-Winslow had to skate by with only a one-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the eight-run drubbing they dealt River Ridge/Scales Mound on Monday. The Panthers were the clear victors by an 11-3 margin over the Wildcats. Considering the Panthers have won five matches by more than five runs this season, Monday's blowout was nothing new.
Lena-Winslow got a massive performance out of Aiden Wild, who scored three runs and stole two bases while going 1-for-3. That's the most runs Wild has posted since back in May of 2024. Landon Grindey was another key player, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two stolen bases and two RBI.
Meanwhile, Forreston was able to grind out a solid win over East Dubuque on Saturday, taking the game 12-8.
Connor Politsch made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-4.
In other batting news, Alec Schoonhoven was incredible, going 2-for-5 with one home run and four RBI. That home run marked the first that he launched this season. Another player making a difference was Daniel Koehl, who scored a run while getting on base in four of his five plate appearances.
Forreston kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their hit total in three consecutive games.
Forreston pushed their record up to 14-2 with the victory, which was their fifth straight on the road. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.4 runs over those games. As for Lena-Winslow, their victory bumped their record up to 9-3-1.
Tuesday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Lena-Winslow hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .331. However, it's not like Forreston struggles in that department as they've averaged .316. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Lena-Winslow suffered a grim 10-4 defeat to Forreston in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Will the Panthers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more baseball content.
