The Sterling Heights Stallions will face off against the Hazel Park Vikings at 4:00 p.m. on Monday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Having struggled with four losses in a row, Sterling Heights turned things around against Eastpointe on Friday. They blew past the Shamrocks 15-7. The high-scoring effort was just what the Stallions needed considering they were shut out in their previous game.
Meanwhile, Hazel Park waltzed into their matchup on Friday with four straight wins... but they left with five. Everything went their way against the Spartans as they made off with a 16-4 win.
Kathryn Chappell (2026) made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out ten over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with three runs, one triple, and one RBI. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on La'Onna Otis (2027), who went 2-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and four RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted over her last 11 contests. Another player making a difference was Camilla Polanco (2029), who went a perfect 3-for-3 with one triple, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Hazel Park kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in seven consecutive games.
Hazel Park's victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 11-10. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.3 runs on average over those games. As for Sterling Heights, the victory got them back to even at 6-6.
Monday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Sterling Heights hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .381. However, it's not like Hazel Park struggles in that department as they've averaged .364. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Sterling Heights suffered a grim 18-3 defeat to Hazel Park in their previous matchup back in April. Will the Stallions have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
