Whiting hasn't had much luck against Highland recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Oilers are taking a road trip to face off against the Trojans at 4:30 p.m. Whiting has given up an average of 9.2 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Whiting lost 15-3 to South Central on Wednesday. The Oilers have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Kasen Dunn was cooking despite his team's loss, going 1-for-3 with five stolen bases, one run, and one double. Carlos Jimenez also deserves some recognition as he snagged his first stolen base of the season.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Highland, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Tuesday. Their pitcher stepped up to hand Hammond Morton a 9-0 shutout on Thursday. The Trojans not only won on Thursday, but they posted their biggest win since May 25, 2024 (when they won 10-0).
Highland also got a great performance from Jakob Burleson as he didn't allow a single earned run while striking out seven over five innings pitched.
At the plate, Nate Phillips was excellent, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with two runs and one triple. Danijel Zekavica was another key player, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with two runs.
Highland hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Hammond Morton struck out seven times.
Highland picked up their first home victory, bumping their record up to 2-5. As for Whiting, their loss dropped their record down to 1-4.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Whiting has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Highland struggles in that department as they've been averaging 3 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Whiting might still be hurting after the 11-1 defeat they got from Highland in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Oilers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
