vs
| 05/04/22 - Home | 3-0 W |
| 05/01/19 - Away | 13-1 W |
| 05/02/18 - Home | 16-5 W |
| 05/06/15 - Away | 7-6 W |
Centerville has gone a perfect 4-0 against Blue River Valley recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Wednesday. The Bulldogs will face off against the Vikings at 5:00 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Centerville took a loss when they played away from home last Tuesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Tuesday. They put the hurt on Union City with a sharp 11-4 win. The high-scoring performance was a welcome turnaround for the Bulldogs' hitters, who had struggled in the games prior.
Landen Schlotterbeck and Nick Tinkle were major factors while hitting and pitching. On the mound, Schlotterbeck struck out seven batters over three innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off four hits (and not a single walk). Meanwhile, Tinkle struck out eight batters over four innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. Schlotterbeck has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. At bat, Schlotterbeck went 1-for-3 with one run and one double, while Tinkle earned two runs and one stolen base. That double marked the first that Schlotterbeck has hit this season.
In other batting news, Chase Clark was excellent, going 1-for-4 with three RBI, one run, and one double. Aiden Nelson also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Meanwhile, Blue River Valley made easy work of Seton Catholic on Tuesday and carried off a 13-4 victory. The win continues a trend for the Vikings in their matchups with the Cardinals: they've now won seven in a row.
Like Centerville, Blue River Valley also got a great game from a two-way player: RYLAN KRAUS. On the mound, he tossed four innings while giving up four earned runs off three hits. What's more, KRAUS posted five strikeouts, the most he's had since back in April of 2024. He was even better at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs.
In other batting news, EVAN ZENTZ was a standout: he got on base in three of his four plate appearances with three stolen bases, three runs, and one double. KYLER KECK was another key player, going 1-for-4 with one home run and three RBI.
Blue River Valley hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Seton Catholic struck out nine times.
Blue River Valley picked up their first home victory, bumping their record up to 8-5. As for Centerville, they moved to 2-8 with that win, which also ended their five-game losing streak.
Blue River Valley's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Centerville hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .329. It's a different story for Blue River Valley, though, as they've only averaged .241. Will they be able to contain Centerville's hitters?
Centerville beat Blue River Valley 3-0 in their previous matchup back in May of 2022. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Bulldogs since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
