The Fort Wayne Snider Panthers will square off against the Valparaiso Vikings at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Fort Wayne Snider comes in on three and Valparaiso on 17.
Fort Wayne Snider is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Saturday. Everything went their way against Homestead as they made off with a 9-1 win. The result was nothing new for the Panthers, who have now won 14 contests by six runs or more so far this season.
Noah Hess spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned run on six hits.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Landen Fry, who went 2-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI.
Meanwhile, Valparaiso faced Crown Point in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Saturday. The Vikings never let the Bulldogs get on the board and left with a 5-0 victory. The game was the first time the Vikings have beaten the Bulldogs on their field since April 16, 2024.
Caden Crowell made a splash no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out ten over seven innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in eight consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI. That's the most hits he has posted since back in May.
Crowell wasn't the only one making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Gabe Bush, who went 2-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
Fort Wayne Snider's record now sits at 24-6. As for Valparaiso, their record is now 23-5.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Saturday as neither team is afraid to steal. Fort Wayne Snider has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.7 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Valparaiso struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 3.6 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
