The Southwestern Spartans will take on the Triton Central Tigers in a tournament on Saturday. Southwestern is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.5 runs per game this season.
Southwestern is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. Everything went their way against Edinburgh on Wednesday as they made off with a 12-2 victory. That's two games straight that the Spartans have won by exactly ten runs.
Isaac Bunch
| 05/07/25 vs Edinburgh | 2 |
| 05/06/25 @ Edinburgh | 2 |
| 04/18/25 @ Waldron | 2 |
| 04/30/25 @ Hauser | 1 |
| 04/11/25 @ South Decatur | 1 |
| + 2 more games |
Isaac Bunch made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out eight over five innings pitched. He has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in six consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two runs. He is becoming a predictor of Southwestern's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is undefeated (and 3-4 when he doesn't).
In other batting news, Southwestern let James Oliver and Landon Drake run wild. Oliver went 2-for-3 with two runs, one double, and one RBI, while Drake went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and two runs. Southwestern is undefeated when Oliver posts two or more runs, but 2-4 otherwise. Kyle Beck also deserves some recognition as he brought in his first RBI of the season.
Southwestern was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .391. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their batting average total in three consecutive contests.
Triton Central let Monrovia stack eight runs on them in the third inning on Wednesday but luckily Triton Central prevailed anyway. The Tigers had just enough and edged out the Bulldogs 12-11. The win continues a trend for the Tigers in their matchups with the Bulldogs: they've now won four in a row.
Brayden Hoover and Bo West did most of the damage at the plate: Hoover went 2-for-3 with three RBI, one run, and one double, while West went a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs, two RBI, and one double. The team also got some help courtesy of Brody Hartman, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run.
Southwestern's record now sits at 6-4. As for Triton Central, their record is now 12-4.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Saturday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Southwestern has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.7 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Triton Central struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.4 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Southwestern suffered a grim 14-3 defeat to Triton Central in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Can the Spartans avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
