The Decatur Central Hawks will be taking part in a tournament against the Indianapolis Lutheran Saints at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Decatur Central's pitching crew has only allowed 4.1 runs per game this season, so Indianapolis Lutheran's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Decatur Central came out on top against Whiteland on Tuesday thanks in part to the team's impressive five-run seventh inning. The Hawks took their contest against the Warriors 9-4. That looming 9-4 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Hawks yet this season.
Zach Losito
| 05/06/25 @ Whiteland | 6 |
| 04/30/24 @ Whiteland | 5 |
| 04/24/24 @ Plainfield | 5 |
| 04/26/25 vs Avon | 3 |
| 04/16/25 @ Mooresville | 3 |
Zach Losito was a major factor no matter where he played. On the mound, he struck out six batters over 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit (and not a single walk). Those six strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and three runs. Decatur Central is undefeated when Losito posts two or more runs, but 3-7 otherwise.
In other batting news, Drew Dalton was incredible, going 3-for-4 with five RBI, two doubles, and one stolen base. Those two doubles gave him a new career-high. Levi Seib was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Indianapolis Lutheran came tearing into Thursday's game with four straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 5.3 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 9-8 W against the Crusaders. That's two games straight that the Saints have won by just one run.
Like Decatur Central, Indianapolis Lutheran also got a great game from a two-way player: Owen Lecher. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching 3.1 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Lecher has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than one hit in six consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Nate Hughes, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and one double. Another player making a difference was Dax Lockliear, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and one double.
Decatur Central has been performing well recently as they've won eight of their last ten matches. That's provided a nice bump to their 10-7 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.7 runs on average over those games. As for Indianapolis Lutheran, they pushed their record up to 11-6 with the victory, which was their third straight on the road.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Decatur Central has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.1 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Indianapolis Lutheran struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8.1 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Decatur Central came out on top in a nail-biter against Indianapolis Lutheran in their previous meeting back in May of 2021, sneaking past 5-4. Will the Hawks repeat their success, or do the Saints have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
