Trojans
| 04/18/25 vs Kankakee Valley | 9 |
| 04/16/25 @ Hobart | 14 |
| 04/14/25 @ Lowell | 3 |
| 04/12/25 vs Valparaiso | 7 |
| 04/12/25 vs Valparaiso | 12 |
| + 3 more games |
Highland has gone a perfect 4-0 against Whiting recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Saturday. The Trojans will welcome the Oilers at 10:00 a.m. Highland is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 12.4 runs per game this season.
Highland took a nine-run loss the last time they faced off against Kankakee Valley, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Trojans won by a run and slipped past the Kougars 9-8. While the Trojans didn't have the best season last year (they finished 9-14), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Alyssa Niemann made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Niemann was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two runs and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Jordan Boyd, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI and one run. Evie Rivera was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two runs.
Meanwhile, Whiting put another one in the bag on Tuesday to keep their perfect season alive. They blew past River Forest 22-4. The Oilers might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won three matches by 18 runs or more this season.
Like Highland, Whiting also got a great game from a two-way player: Lilianna Bell. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching five innings while giving up four earned runs off only two hits. Bell was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBI, two runs, and one double. Those four hits gave her a new career-high.
In other batting news, Whiting got a massive performance out of Arianna Vianello, who went 3-for-5 with three runs, two RBI, and one double. Vianello has been hot recently, having posted three or more hits the last three times she's played. Another player making a difference was Gabriella Watkins, who went 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs.
Whiting kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 19 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least ten hits every time they've taken the field this season.
Whiting's win was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 4-0. The road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 21.7 runs over those games. As for Highland, the win made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 6-2.
Saturday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Highland has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .539. However, it's not like Whiting struggles in that department as they've averaged .627. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Highland's way against Whiting in their previous meeting back in April of 2024, as Highland made off with a 25-1 victory. Will the Trojans repeat their success, or do the Oilers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
