Whiting is 0-4 against Highland since April of 2019 but things could change on Saturday. The Oilers will venture away from home to take on the Trojans at 10:00 a.m. Whiting knows how to get runs on the board -- the squad has finished with ten runs or more in their past four contests -- so hopefully Highland likes a good challenge.
Whiting hadn't beaten River Forest on the road since April 1, 2019 but that history sure didn't bother them on Tuesday. The Oilers put the hurt on the Ingots with a sharp 22-4 win. That's two games straight that the Oilers have won by exactly 18 runs.
Lilianna Bell made a splash no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing five innings while giving up four earned runs off only two hits. Bell was even better at the plate, going a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBI, two runs, and one double. Those four hits gave her a new career-high.
Arianna Vianello
| 04/15/25 @ River Forest | 3 |
| 04/14/25 vs Lake Station Edison | 3 |
| 04/10/25 @ Hammond Central | 3 |
In other batting news, Whiting got a massive performance out of Arianna Vianello, who went 3-for-5 with three runs, two RBI, and one double. Vianello is on a roll when it comes to hits, as she's now got three or more in each of the last three games she's played. Gabriella Watkins was another key player, going 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs.
Whiting kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 19 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least ten hits every time they've taken the field this season.
Highland came out on top against Kankakee Valley on Friday thanks in part to the team's impressive five-run fifth inning. The Trojans had just enough and edged out the Kougars 9-8. While the Trojans didn't have the best season last year (they finished 9-14), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Alyssa Niemann was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Niemann was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with two runs and one double.
In other batting news, Jordan Boyd was excellent, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI and one run. Hailey Thomas also deserves some recognition as she hit her first triple of the season.
Whiting pushed their record up to 4-0 with the victory, which was their third straight on the road. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 21.7 runs over those games. As for Highland, the victory made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 6-2.
Saturday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Whiting has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .627. However, it's not like Highland struggles in that department as they've averaged .539. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Whiting suffered a grim 25-1 defeat to Highland when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Oilers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
