West Bend West and Hartford are an even 5-5 against one another since May of 2019, but likely not for long. The Spartans will head out on the road to challenge the Orioles at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Both teams are coming into the game red-hot, with West Bend West sitting on 11 straight victories and Hartford on three.
West Bend West gave up the first runs on Thursday, but they didn't let that get them down. They were the clear victors by an 11-1 margin over Sheboygan South. The Spartans might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won seven matchups by seven runs or more this season.
Cullen Roell
| 04/30/26 vs Sheboygan South | 2 |
| 04/21/26 @ Plymouth | 1 |
| 04/16/26 @ Kewaskum | 2 |
| 04/07/26 vs Port Washington | 1 |
Cullen Roell spent all six innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned run on two hits and racked up 11 Ks. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Kingston Bechler was excellent, going 1-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Chase Abresch, who got on base in all four of his plate appearances with two stolen bases and one run.
West Bend West was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .393. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Sheboygan South only posted a batting average of .095.
Meanwhile, Hartford made easy work of Cedarburg on Thursday and carried off an 8-2 win.
Andrew Horwath tossed a big game, striking out eight batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. Those eight strikeouts gave him a new career-high.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Kaiden Romens, who went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI. That's the most runs he has posted since back in April of 2025. Aidan Kolb was another key player, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with two runs and one double.
West Bend West's record is now 11-0. As for Hartford, their record now sits at 9-5.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. West Bend West has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.8 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Hartford struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 3.1 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
West Bend West might still be hurting after the 7-1 loss they got from Hartford when the teams last played back in May of 2025. Can the Spartans avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
