The Heyworth Hornets will face off against the El Paso-Gridley Titans at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Heyworth will roll into the contest after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up one run on Friday, then bounced right back against Delavan on Saturday. The Hornets put the hurt on the Panthers with a sharp 11-2 victory. The Hornets might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won seven matchups by six runs or more this season.
Maddox Klawitter
| 04/16/25 @ Fisher | 3 |
| 03/27/25 @ St. Teresa | 3 |
| 04/26/25 @ Delavan | 2 |
| 04/15/25 vs Argenta-Oreana | 2 |
| 04/21/25 vs Deer Creek-Mackinaw | 1 |
| + 3 more games |
Heyworth let Boston Katz and Maddox Klawitter run wild. Katz got on base in three of his five plate appearances with one stolen base and two RBI, while Klawitter went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases and two runs. Heyworth is undefeated when Klawitter posts two or more stolen bases, but 7-10 otherwise. The team also got some help courtesy of Hunter Bockelman, who got on base in three of his five plate appearances with one stolen base and one run.
The home team had come away the winner the last five times El Paso-Gridley and Midland had met, but sadly for the fans who attended this one that wasn't the case. The Titans never let the Timberwolves get on the board and left with a 4-0 win on Saturday. The game was the first time the Titans have beaten the Timberwolves on their field since April 22, 2017.
Not much got past Mason Vandegraft, who gave up just a hit and racked up 11 Ks to keep Midland off the board. Vandegraft has been consistent recently: he hasn't tossed less than eight strikeouts in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, El Paso-Gridley's victory was truly a team effort as four different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Blake Harris, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
El Paso-Gridley moved to 5-15 with that win, which also ended their three-game losing streak. As for Heyworth, they now have a winning record of 11-10.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Heyworth has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.7 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like El Paso-Gridley struggles in that department as they've been averaging 9.6 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Everything went Heyworth's way against El Paso-Gridley in their previous meeting back in May of 2024, as Heyworth made off with a 10-0 victory. Do the Hornets have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Titans turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
