The Hopkins Vikings will take on the Allendale Falcons at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Hopkins barely beat Zeeland East the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Vikings blew past the Chix 9-3 on Thursday. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest win the Vikings have posted against the Chix since May 11, 2022.
Hopkins got a great performance from Gracie Stallard as she tossed six innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off nine hits. Stallard has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than one walk in eight consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Lyla Reynolds was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI. Ava Vanderkolk was another key player, going 3-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and one double.
Hopkins was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .400. They are 6-2 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Allendale). They put the hurt on Kenowa Hills with a sharp 26-1 victory on Thursday. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Falcons.
Haven Slater was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She tossed four innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits. Slater was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-2 with one triple and two RBI. That triple marked the first that she has hit this season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Tessa Gunter, who got on base in four of her five plate appearances with four runs and three RBI. Another player making a difference was Lexie Gunter, who got on base in four of her five plate appearances with four runs and three RBI.
Allendale pushed their record up to 6-4 with the win, which was their seventh straight on the road dating back to last season. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 14.6 runs over those games. As for Hopkins, their record is now 6-7-1.
Saturday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Hopkins has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .478. However, it's not like Allendale struggles in that department as they've averaged .461. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
