Waterloo is 0-7 against Mineral Ridge since April of 2022 but things could change on Wednesday. The Vikings will host the Rams at 5:00 p.m.
Waterloo is headed into Wednesday's match looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their third straight game on Tuesday. They came up short against Springfield, falling 11-1. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest loss the Vikings have suffered since April 1st.
Waterloo saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Landon McClain, who went 2-for-3 with one run.
Meanwhile, Mineral Ridge had already won five in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 3.8 runs) and they went ahead and made it six on Monday. Everything went their way against the Red Devils as they made off with a 15-2 victory. The Rams' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Jack Gillie made a splash while hitting and pitching. He tossed five innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off four hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in five consecutive appearances. He was also stellar in the batter's box, getting on base in all four of his plate appearances with three stolen bases and four runs. Those three stolen bases gave him a new career-high.
In other batting news, Mineral Ridge let Justin Dailey and Xavier Klamer run wild. Dailey went a perfect 2-for-2 with four stolen bases, three runs, and one RBI, while Klamer went 3-for-4 with three runs, one triple, and two RBI. Those four stolen bases gave Dailey a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Ethan Vestorsky, who went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases, one run, and one double.
Mineral Ridge kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in three consecutive contests.
Mineral Ridge's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 10-2. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.3 runs over those games. As for Waterloo, their defeat dropped their record down to 5-7.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Wednesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Waterloo has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.7 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Mineral Ridge struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7.7 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Waterloo couldn't quite get it done against Mineral Ridge when the teams last played on April 14th as they fell 5-0. Will the Vikings 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 baseball content.
