The Plattsmouth Blue Devils will take on the Wahoo/Bishop Neumann Warriors in a tournament on Monday. Plattsmouth is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8 runs per game this season.
Plattsmouth took a loss when they played away from home on Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Friday. They were the clear victors by a 23-1 margin over Maranatha Christian Academy/Immaculata. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Blue Devils considering their one-run performance the game before.
Joshua Gradoville was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Gradoville was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs.
In other batting news, Brady Thomas was incredible, scoring four runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances. Those two stolen bases gave him a new career-high. Jacob Longton was another key player, scoring three runs while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances.
Plattsmouth always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .765. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, Wahoo/Bishop Neumann hadn't done well against Elkhorn recently (they were 0-6 in their previous six matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. The Warriors won by a run and slipped past the Antlers 4-3.
Like Plattsmouth, Wahoo/Bishop Neumann also got a great game from a two-way player: Alex Barry. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching seven innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off four hits. Barry was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one double and one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Sam Marxsen, who scored a run while going 2-for-4.
Plattsmouth's win was their sixth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 7-5. Those home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for Wahoo/Bishop Neumann, their win bumped their record up to 5-7.
Plattsmouth's speedy runners might be the difference in Monday's contest. The Blue Devils have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Wahoo/Bishop Neumann, though, as they've been averaging only 1.3 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Plattsmouth continue to outrun the ball?
Plattsmouth took their victory against Wahoo/Bishop Neumann when the teams last played back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 10-3 score. Do the Blue Devils have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Warriors turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
