The Westfield Shamrocks will face off against the Pendleton Heights Arabians at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Westfield 3.8, Pendleton Heights 3.4) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Westfield is headed into Monday's match looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their fifth straight game on Friday. They were a single run away from ending the streak, but they lost a 2-1 heartbreaker at the hands of Noblesville.
Westfield got a good showing from James Kovacs, who tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. That's the fewest hits Kovacs has allowed over his last four games.
At the plate, Westfield saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Beck Jordan, who went 1-for-2 with one stolen base, one double, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Pendleton Heights fought the good fight in their extra-innings contest against Lapel on Friday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Bulldogs by a score of 5-4. Surprisingly, this marked the Arabians' fifth straight game in which the away team has come away the victor.
Brayden Stevenson was a force to be reckoned with on the mound despite the final result: he struck out six batters over 4.2 innings while giving up just one earned (and three unearned) runs off two hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Brandt Gray made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and went a perfect 2-for-2 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Westfield's defeat dropped their record down to 10-6. As for Pendleton Heights, their loss ended a seven-game streak of wins at home dating back to last season and dropped them to 11-2.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Westfield has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.2 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Pendleton Heights struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.1 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Everything went Westfield's way against Pendleton Heights in their previous meeting back in May of 2022, as Westfield made off with a 9-3 win. Do the Shamrocks have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Arabians turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
