Homestead is a perfect 6-0 against Columbia City since April of 2015 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Monday. The Spartans will take on the Eagles at 5:30 p.m. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Homestead comes in on 11 and Columbia City on four.
On Saturday, Homestead made easy work of South Bend Adams and carried off a 13-3 win. Considering the Spartans have won four matches by more than six runs this season, Saturday's blowout was nothing new.
Mason Gutmann looked comfortable as he pitched 3.2 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two hits in four consecutive appearances.
Luke Neiswonger
| 04/26/25 @ South Bend Adams | 3 |
| 05/14/24 vs Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian | 2 |
| 04/13/24 vs Cathedral | 2 |
| 04/21/25 vs Adams Central | 1 |
| 04/17/25 vs Bellmont | 1 |
On the hitting side, Homestead let Luke Neiswonger and Cole Kintz run wild. Neiswonger got on base in all five of his plate appearances with three stolen bases, three runs, and one RBI, while Kintz went 3-for-5 with four runs, two stolen bases, and one RBI. Those three stolen bases gave Neiswonger a new career-high. Damian Rogers also deserves some recognition as he got his first hits of the season.
Homestead kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 17 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in six consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Columbia City sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 9-8 victory over West Noble on Saturday. That's two games straight that the Eagles have won by just one run.
The team relied heavily on Carter Wilkinson, who went 4-for-5 with two stolen bases, one triple, and two RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Lukus Schmitt, who went 2-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and one double.
Homestead pushed their record up to 12-1 with the win, which was their fourth straight on the road dating back to last season. The road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 7.5 runs over those games. As for Columbia City, their record is now 8-3.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Homestead has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Columbia City struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7.3 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Homestead came out on top in a nail-biter against Columbia City in their previous matchup back in May of 2024, sneaking past 5-4. Do the Spartans have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Eagles turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
