Madison West is 0-10 against Janesville Parker since May of 2019 but things could change on Thursday. The Regents will host the Vikings at 5:00 p.m. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Having struggled with seven losses in a row, Madison West turned things around against Sun Prairie West on Tuesday. They came out on top against the Wolves by a score of 6-3.
Violet Knepp was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing two innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
In other pitching news, Madison West got a great performance from Ada Gentry as she struck out eight batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off three hits.
Back at the plate, the team relied heavily on Amira Baldon, who went 1-for-4 with one home run and three RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in April. Sofi De Los Santos also deserves some recognition as she scored her first run of the season.
Madison West hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Sun Prairie West struck out ten times.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Janesville Parker). They were the clear victors by an 11-1 margin over Wilmot on Wednesday. The Vikings not only won on Wednesday, but they posted their biggest win since April 11, 2024 (when they won 14-4).
Lilly Keller made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She struck out nine batters over six innings while giving up just one earned run off five hits (and not a single walk). Keller was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with one triple, two RBI, and one double.
In other batting news, Keara Erickson was excellent, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, one run, and one double. Kenedi Pryne was another key player, going 1-for-3 with four RBI.
The victory made it two in a row for Janesville Parker and bumps their season record up to 9-12. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.5 runs over those games. As for Madison West, their victory bumped their record up to 2-13.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Madison West has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.2 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Janesville Parker struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.7 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Madison West couldn't quite finish off Janesville Parker in their previous meeting back in April and fell 8-6. Will the Regents have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
