Howards Grove will face off against Ripon on Saturday. Howards Grove's hitters haven't had much luck over their past three contests, but Saturday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Howards Grove came up short against Random Lake on Thursday, falling 12-1.
Howards Grove saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Landon Bettack, who went 1-for-2 with one RBI.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Ripon, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Tuesday. Everything went their way against Mauston on Thursday as they made off with a 13-3 victory. The Tigers not only won on Thursday, but they posted their biggest win since May 17, 2025 (when they won 10-0).
Coy DeVries made a splash no matter where he played. On the mound, he struck out 14 batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off five hits. Those 14 strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also big at the plate, getting on base in all four of his plate appearances with four RBI, two runs, and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Shay Otto, who went 4-for-5 with three runs, four RBI, and two doubles. Ripon is 2-1 when Otto posts two or more runs, but 0-5 otherwise. Jackson Nelson also deserves some recognition as he snagged his first stolen base of the season.
The win snapped Ripon's losing streak at four games and leaves them with a 2-6 record. As for Howards Grove, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-5.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Saturday as neither team is afraid to steal. Howards Grove has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.7 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Ripon struggles in that department as they've been averaging 2.9 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
