The Illini Bluffs Tigers will head out on the road to challenge the Havana Ducks at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Illini Bluffs will be looking to extend their current five-game winning streak.
On Tuesday, Illini Bluffs made easy work of Peoria Heights and carried off an 11-1 win. The result was nothing new for the Tigers, who have now won seven matchups by six runs or more so far this season.
Will Giftos spent all six innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned run on six hits and racked up 11 Ks. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Toby Cooper, who went 1-for-3 with three stolen bases, three runs, and one RBI. That's the most runs he has posted since back in April of 2024. Another player making a difference was Brendan Bacon, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with two stolen bases, one run, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Havana can bid farewell to their three-game losing streak thanks to their game on Saturday. They never let Astoria/VIT get on the board and left with a 5-0 victory.
The result came thanks to Oscar Jones's shutout, as he gave up just two hits and racked up eight Ks. He also tossed a walk, which is notable because Havana is 4-2 when he allows at most one walk, but 3-12 otherwise.
On the hitting side, Kaden Olson was incredible, going 1-for-3 with one home run and one stolen base. That home run marked the first that he has launched this season. Jack Turner was another key player, going 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and one run.
Illini Bluffs' win was their eighth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 13-5. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for Havana, their record now sits at 7-14.
Havana's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Illini Bluffs has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .440. It's a different story for Havana, though, as they've only averaged .315. Will they be able to contain Illini Bluffs' hitters?
Illini Bluffs skirted past Havana 6-4 in their previous matchup back in May of 2023. Will the Tigers repeat their success, or do the Ducks have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
