The Fruitport Trojans will head out to face off against the Hopkins Vikings at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Fruitport knows how to get runs on the board -- the squad has finished with ten runs or more in their past five contests -- so hopefully Hopkins likes a good challenge.
Fruitport's usually-dominant pitching crew will be looking to make up for Friday's struggle, when Holton hitters got past them. The Trojans sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 14-12 victory over the Red Devils on Friday.
Kya Tawney and Brylee Dewitt did most of the damage at the plate: Tawney went 3-for-5 with one home run, three runs, and two doubles, while Dewitt went 2-for-4 with one home run and two runs. That's the most doubles Tawney has posted since back in May of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Madyson Prout, who went 1-for-5 with one home run and two RBI.
Fruitport was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .444. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .407 or higher in five consecutive matchups.
Hopkins came out on top against Parchment on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive six-run sixth inning. The Vikings were the clear victors by a 12-6 margin over the Panthers. The Vikings might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 13 games by six runs or more this season.
Gracie Stallard spent all six innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and three unearned) runs on seven hits.
On the hitting side, Lyla Reynolds was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with three runs, one double, and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Cami Hibma, who went 3-for-4 with three RBI, one stolen base, and one run.
Hopkins has been performing well recently as they've won seven of their last nine contests. That's provided a massive bump to their 15-11-1 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.4 runs over those games. As for Fruitport, they pushed their record up to 15-2 with the victory, which was their fifth straight on the road.
Saturday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Fruitport has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .565. However, it's not like Hopkins struggles in that department as they've averaged .501. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
