The Beecher Bobcats will head out on the road to take on the Lemont Lemont HS at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Beecher will roll into the game after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any runs on Tuesday, then bounced right back against Oak Forest on Wednesday. The Bobcats never let the Bengals get on the board and left with a 12-0 victory. The Bobcats haven't had any issues with the Bengals recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive win against them.
Makenzie Johnson was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with three runs, one triple, and one RBI. That's the most runs she has posted since back in April. The team also got some help courtesy of Ava Olson, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Lemont came tearing into Wednesday's contest with eight straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 7.6 runs), and they left with even more momentum. Everything went their way against the Rams as they made off with a 9-1 victory.
Mila Mardjetko spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on four hits and racked up 13 Ks. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Lemont let Claire Podrebarac and Natalie Pacyga run wild. Podrebarac went 3-for-4 with two runs, two doubles, and two RBI, while Pacyga went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two doubles, and one run. Another player making a difference was Ania Liptak, who went 3-for-4 with one double and one RBI.
Beecher's record now sits at 29-2. As for Lemont, their record is now 23-7.
Saturday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Beecher hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .402. However, it's not like Lemont struggles in that department as they've averaged .368. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Beecher took their win against Lemont when the teams last played back in May of 2024 by a conclusive 10-4 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Bobcats since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
