The Johnsburg Skyhawks will head out on the road to face off against the Woodstock North Thunder at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Johnsburg is coming into the matchup hot, having won their last ten games.
While Johnsburg didn't have the best season last year (they finished 6-25), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. Everything went their way against Sandwich on Saturday as they made off with a 16-5 win.
Kaeden Frost made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. What's more, he posted three strikeouts, the most he's had over his last five contests. He was even better at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base.
Dom Vallone
| 04/12/25 vs Sandwich | 3 |
| 04/12/25 vs Sandwich | 2 |
| 03/26/25 vs Winnebago | 2 |
| 04/09/25 vs Richmond-Burton | 1 |
| 04/07/25 @ Richmond-Burton | 1 |
In other batting news, Dom Vallone was a standout: he got on base in four of his five plate appearances with three stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI. Those three stolen bases gave him a new career-high. Landon Johnson also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Johnsburg kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Woodstock North had already won two in a row and they went ahead and made it three on Saturday. They put the hurt on the Reapers with a sharp 13-5 victory. The Thunder might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won three games by eight runs or more this season.
Like Johnsburg, Woodstock North also got a great game from a two-way player: Tristan Schaffter. He tossed four innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off four hits. Schaffter was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in four of his five plate appearances.
In other batting news, Braeden Berner was incredible, scoring two runs and stealing four bases while going 2-for-5. He has become a key player for Woodstock North: the team is 3-1 when he posts at least two stolen bases, but 2-3 otherwise. Jack Wollpert was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 1-for-3.
Johnsburg pushed their record up to 11-2 with the win, which was their ninth straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.0 runs on average over those games. As for Woodstock North, they now have a winning record of 5-4.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Monday as neither team is afraid to steal. Johnsburg has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5.7 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Woodstock North struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 5.1 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Johnsburg came up short against Woodstock North in their previous meeting back in April of 2024, falling 9-6. Can the Skyhawks avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
