South Sioux City hasn't had much luck against Roncalli Catholic recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Cardinals will take on the Crimson Pride at 4:45 p.m. South Sioux City is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.1 runs per game this season.
South Sioux City took a loss when they played away from home on Saturday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Wednesday. Their pitcher stepped up to hand Buena Vista a 10-0 shutout. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Cardinals considering their one-run performance the game before.
Darrius Helms
| 03/28/25 @ Guardian Angels Central Catholic/West Point Beemer | 9 |
| 04/25/25 @ Fort Calhoun | 7 |
| 04/15/25 @ Roncalli Catholic | 4 |
| 04/10/25 @ Twin River | 2 |
| 03/24/25 vs Tekamah-Herman | 2 |
| + 2 more games |
Darrius Helms was a major factor no matter where he played. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out six over five innings pitched. South Sioux City is 2-1 when Helms allows one or fewer hits, but 4-7 otherwise. Helms was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with two stolen bases and one run.
In other batting news, Braden Barnett was incredible, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in April of 2024. Colten Burns also deserves some recognition as he snagged his first stolen base of the season.
South Sioux City always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .517. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, Roncalli Catholic came up short against Concordia/Brownell/Omaha Christian Academy on Tuesday and fell 8-3. The defeat continues a trend for the Crimson Pride in their meetings with Concordia/Brownell/Omaha Christian Academy: they've now lost three in a row.
Kaden Bey was cooking despite his team's loss, getting on base in two of his three plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base. Another player making a difference was Brady Shetlar, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with two RBI and one double.
South Sioux City's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 6-8. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.3 runs on average over those games. As for Roncalli Catholic, their loss dropped their record down to 5-12.
South Sioux City's speedy runners might be the difference in Thursday's matchup. The Cardinals have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.1 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Roncalli Catholic, though, as they've been averaging only 1.2 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will South Sioux City continue to outrun the ball?
South Sioux City suffered a grim 8-1 defeat to Roncalli Catholic in their previous matchup back in April. Can the Cardinals avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
