Smithville is 0-10 against Hillsdale since April of 2019 but things could change on Tuesday. The Smithies will welcome the Falcons at 5:00 p.m. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.
Smithville took a ten-run loss the last time they faced off against Rittman, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Smithies came out on top in a nail-biter against the Indians on Wednesday, sneaking past 3-1.
Mason Shutt spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned run on one hit and racked up 15 Ks.
At the plate, Smithville saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Jace Leach, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one double. Another was Mason Leach, who went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases.
Smithville hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Rittman struck out 15 times.
Meanwhile, it may have taken eight innings to finish the job, but Hillsdale ultimately got the result they hoped for on Wednesday. They had just enough and edged out Chippewa 3-1. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Falcons have posted against the Chipps since May 18, 2021.
Hillsdale also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and he was also dialed-in: Aiden Hoffman gave up a run (which was unearned) on five hits.
On the hitting side, Kael Lewis was excellent, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-3. He also hit a double, marking his first of the season.
The win got Hillsdale back to even at 3-3. As for Smithville, the victory also got them back to even at 3-3.
Smithville suffered a grim 15-4 defeat to Hillsdale when the teams last played back in March of 2024. Can the Smithies avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
