The Knightstown Panthers will venture away from home to take on the North Decatur Chargers at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Knightstown has given up an average of 7.5 runs per game this season, but Wednesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Knightstown came into their game on Tuesday off a hard-fought close win, but unfortunately suffered a serious change of fortune. They lost 12-2 to Hagerstown. The Panthers have struggled against the Tigers recently, as the game was their third consecutive lost meeting.
Knightstown saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Lanee Swindell, who went 1-for-2 with one run and one double.
Meanwhile, North Decatur got themselves on the board against Waldron on Tuesday, but Waldron never followed suit. They put the hurt on the Mohawks with a sharp 12-0 win. Considering the Chargers have won five matchups by more than five runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Brooklyn White made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She didn't allow a single earned run while striking out seven over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run.
In other batting news, North Decatur let Kendall Hostkoetter and Madison Rohls run wild. Hostkoetter went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, three RBI, and one double, while Rohls went a perfect 3-for-3 with two stolen bases and three runs. That's the most RBI Hostkoetter has posted since back in May of 2024. Libby Crawford was another key player, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and one run.
North Decatur was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .519. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .370 or higher in three consecutive games.
North Decatur's record now sits at 5-7. As for Knightstown, they now have a losing record of 7-8.
Wednesday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Knightstown hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .354. However, it's not like North Decatur struggles in that department as they've averaged .398. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Knightstown took their victory against North Decatur in their previous meeting back in May of 2024 by a conclusive 10-0 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Panthers since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
