Hampshire has won ten straight games at home, while Hersey has won ten straight on the road dating back to last season, but those streaks won't matter much on Saturday. The Whip-Purs will host the Huskies at 10:00 a.m. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Hampshire 2.5, Hersey 2.3) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Hampshire will bounce into Saturday's matchup after beating Jacobs, who they had gone 0-9 against in their nine prior meetings. The Whip-Purs had just enough and edged out the Golden Eagles 9-7.
Joseph Rodriguez
| 04/11/25 vs Jacobs | 0 |
| 04/01/25 vs Wheaton North | 1 |
| 03/27/25 vs Larkin | 1 |
Joseph Rodriguez looked comfortable as he pitched 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Ari Fivelson was excellent, scoring three runs while going 2-for-4. Lucas Mazur was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 1-for-2.
Meanwhile, in Friday's Canine Competition, Hersey prevailed. They walked away with a 5-1 win over Niles West on Friday.
Hersey also got a great performance from Riley Blackwell as he struck out 11 batters over six innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits (and only one walk). Those 11 strikeouts gave Blackwell a new career-high.
On the hitting side, Diego Garcia was a standout: he scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-3. Another player making a difference was Bennett McNeill, who scored two runs while going 2-for-2.
Hersey kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in four consecutive contests.
Hersey's victory bumped their record up to 9-0-1. As for Hampshire, their win bumped their record up to 13-1.
Saturday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Hampshire has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .456. However, it's not like Hersey struggles in that department as they've averaged .436. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Hampshire came out on top in a nail-biter against Hersey in their previous meeting back in April of 2024, sneaking past 7-6. Do the Whip-Purs have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Huskies turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
