Hobart and Valparaiso are an even 3-3 against one another since May of 2015, but likely not for long. The Hobart Brickies will head out on the road to challenge the Valparaiso Vikings at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Hobart will be strutting in after a win while Valparaiso will be coming in after a defeat.
Hobart took a loss when they played away from home last Wednesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Wednesday. They never let Hammond Central onto the board and left with a 13-0 victory. The high-scoring effort was just what Hobart needed considering they were shutout in their previous game.
Morgan Ellenberger and Ella Hornak made a splash while hitting and pitching. Throwing, Ellenberger struck out nine batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and only one walk). Meanwhile, Hornak struck out six batters over two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and not a single walk). At the plate, Ellenberger went 3-for-3 with four RBI, two runs, and a double, while Hornak scored a run while going 2-for-3.
In other batting news, Keirys Click and Nora Hornak did most of the damage at the plate: Click scored two runs while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances, while Hornak scored a run while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances. Payton Michael was another key contributor, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
Meanwhile, Valparaiso was not able to break out of their rough patch on Tuesday as the team picked up their fourth straight loss. They lost 11-1 to Lake Central.
Hobart has been performing well recently as they've won 11 of their last 14 contests, which provided a nice bump to their 15-6 record this season. As for Valparaiso, their defeat dropped their record down to 10-12.
Hobart's speedy runners might be the difference in Thursday's match. Hobart has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.4 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Valparaiso, though, as they've been averaging only 0.7. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Hobart continue to outrun the ball?
Hobart beat Valparaiso 10-7 when the teams last played back in May of 2023. Does Hobart have another victory up their sleeve, or will Valparaiso turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
