The Libertyville Wildcats will square off against the Buffalo Grove Bison at 4:45 p.m. on Friday. Libertyville will come into the game with an undefeated record on the line.
If Libertyville beats Buffalo Grove with nine runs on Friday, it's going to be the team's new lucky number: they've won their past two contests with that exact score. The Wildcats never let Grayslake North get on the board and left with a 9-0 victory on Tuesday. The result was nothing new for the Wildcats, who have now won four matches by eight runs or more so far this season.
Josh Holst made a splash while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Holst was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with three RBI and one double.
In other pitching news, Charlie Gretz looked comfortable as he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two hits any time he's pitched this season.
Back at the plate, Quinn Schambow was incredible, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 3-for-3. Cole Lockwood was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
Meanwhile, Buffalo Grove can bid farewell to their four-game losing streak thanks to their game on Thursday. They came out on top against Deerfield by a score of 4-0.
Not much got past Griffin Kelly, who gave up just two hits and racked up 13 Ks to keep Deerfield off the board.
At the plate, Buffalo Grove saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Owen Erickson, who went 1-for-2 with one RBI. That RBI was Erickson's first of the season.
Libertyville pushed their record up to 8-0 with the win, which was their fifth straight on the road. As for Buffalo Grove, they picked up their first road victory, bumping their record up to 2-6-1.
Libertyville's speedy runners might be the difference in Friday's game. The Wildcats have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Buffalo Grove, though, as they've been averaging only 1.2 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Libertyville continue to outrun the ball?
Libertyville took their win against Buffalo Grove when the teams last played back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 11-1 score. Will the Wildcats repeat their success, or do the Bison have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
