Northfield had to start their season on the road on Monday, and it wasn't the start they were hoping for. They fell just short of the Tippecanoe Valley Vikings by a score of 8-6. The result was an unpleasant reminder to Northfield of the 5-2 loss they experienced in the pair's previous head-to-head fixture back in May of 2023.
Brandon Mckillip was huge while hitting and pitching even without the win. He struck out nine batters over 3.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Mckillip was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with a triple, a stolen base, and a run.
In other batting news, Jared Holmes and Korbin Haupert did some serious damage despite the final result: Holmes scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-3, while Haupert went 1-for-3 with three RBI and a double. Jaden Baer was another key contributor, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
Like Northfield, Tippecanoe Valley also got a great game from a two-way player: Cameron Manuel. On the mound, he struck out nine batters over three innings while giving up three earned runs off five hits. Manuel was even better at the plate, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while going 1-for-3.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Landon Durkes, who scored a run and stole two bases while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances.
Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Northfield will take on Fort Wayne South Side at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Northfield will be looking to keep their three-game home win streak dating back to last season alive. Tippecanoe Valley will take on Manchester at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
