The Belvidere Bucs will challenge the Richmond-Burton Rockets at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Richmond-Burton took a loss in their last contest and will be looking to turn the tables on Belvidere, who comes in off a win.
Belvidere will bounce into Thursday's game after beating Belvidere North, who they had gone 0-9 against in their nine prior meetings. The Bucs walked away with a 10-5 victory over the Blue Thunder on Wednesday. The high-scoring effort was just what the Bucs needed considering they were shut out in their previous match.
Chris Medina
| 04/28/25 @ Rockford East | 6 |
| 03/27/25 @ Woodstock North | 4 |
| 05/14/25 @ Belvidere North | 3 |
| 05/05/25 @ Rockford Auburn | 1 |
| 05/02/25 vs Rockford Auburn | 1 |
| + 6 more games |
Chris Medina was a major factor no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over seven innings while giving up five earned runs off seven hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. He was even better at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, three runs, and one double. Belvidere is undefeated when Medina posts two or more runs, but 5-19 otherwise.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Gio Urbietta, who went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, three RBI, and two doubles. That's the most doubles he has posted since back in May of 2024. Emmett Rodriguez was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double.
Belvidere kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are a perfect 5-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
The home team had won the previous four meetings between Richmond-Burton and Round Lake, and Round Lake kept the tradition alive. The Rockets fell 7-4 to the Panthers on Tuesday. The Rockets' defeat signaled the end of their three-game winning streak.
Belvidere is on a roll lately: they've won six of their last eight contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 8-19 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 7.0 runs over those games. As for Richmond-Burton, their loss dropped their record down to 8-15.
Belvidere came up short against Richmond-Burton in their previous matchup back in March of 2023, falling 8-3. Will the Bucs have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
