The Hoisington Cardinals will venture away from home to challenge the Smoky Valley Vikings at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. The last three games Hoisington has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
The home team had won the previous six meetings between Hoisington and Halstead, and Hoisington kept the tradition alive. The Cardinals had just enough and edged out the Dragons 4-3 on Friday. That's two games straight that the Cardinals have won by just one run.
Ellie Crawford
| 05/02/25 vs Halstead | 2 |
| 05/02/25 vs Halstead | 1 |
| 04/22/25 vs Haven | 2 |
Ellie Crawford spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on four hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Gabby Reif was excellent, going 2-for-3 with three RBI, one run, and one double. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in April.
Meanwhile, Smoky Valley beat Nickerson 10-6 on Monday. The win continues a trend for the Vikings in their matchups with the Panthers: they've now won seven in a row.
Rylie Neywick was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching 6.1 innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. Neywick was also big at the plate, going 3-for-5 with one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Rylie Tolle, who fired off two home runs and four RBI while going 2-for-5. Kaitlyn Schoshke also deserves some recognition as she brought in her first RBI of the season.
Hoisington's record is now 11-3. As for Smoky Valley, their record now sits at 5-13.
Smoky Valley's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Hoisington has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .433. It's a different story for Smoky Valley, though, as they've only averaged .360. Will they be able to contain Hoisington's hitters?
Everything went Hoisington's way against Smoky Valley in their previous matchup back in May of 2024, as Hoisington made off with an 8-1 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Cardinals since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
