Millard North and Bellevue West are an even 5-5 against one another since March of 2018, but likely not for long. The Mustangs will welcome the Thunderbirds at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. The last five games Millard North has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
On Tuesday, Millard North had just enough and edged out Lincoln North Star 6-5. The victory continues a trend for the Mustangs in their matchups with the Navigators: they've now won three in a row.
Jack Starr
| 05/06/25 vs Lincoln North Star | 4 |
| 05/02/25 @ Omaha Westside | 1 |
| 04/29/25 vs Omaha Westside | 1 |
| 04/22/25 @ Elkhorn North | 1 |
| 04/14/25 @ Millard West | 4 |
Jack Starr looked comfortable as he pitched three innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off four hits. What's more, he posted four strikeouts, the most he's had since back in April.
On the hitting side, Ripken Fleck was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and two RBI. That's the most hits he has posted over his last 13 matches. The team also got some help courtesy of Chase Machal, who got on base in two of his three plate appearances with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Millard North hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Lincoln North Star struck out eight times.
Meanwhile, Bellevue West waltzed into their contest on Friday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They put the hurt on the Eagles with a sharp 9-1 win.
Cole Madden spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned run on five hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Aiden Ensor, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Zack Pinneo, who went 1-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Bellevue West pushed their record up to 20-9 with the victory, which was their third straight at home. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.7 runs on average over those games. As for Millard North, their victory bumped their record up to 18-11.
Millard North skirted past Bellevue West 2-1 when the teams last played back in April. Will the Mustangs repeat their success, or do the Thunderbirds have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
