The River Forest Ingots will face off against the Hammond Central Wolves at 4:45 p.m. on Friday. Having both just faced considerable losses, both teams are looking to turn things around.
River Forest lost 26-16 to Merrillville on Thursday.
D'Yanna Hurn and Amy Arana stepped up to the plate in a big way. Hurn went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI, while Arana got on base in four of her five plate appearances with four runs, two stolen bases, and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Julianna Bailey, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Hammond Central was not able to break out of their rough patch on Tuesday as the team picked up their third straight defeat. They came up short against Washington Township, falling 17-4.
Neveena Funches made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and got on base in all three of her plate appearances with five stolen bases and three runs. The team also got some help courtesy of Alainnah Pabey, who got on base in all three of her plate appearances with one RBI.
Hammond Central's loss dropped their record down to 6-8. As for River Forest, they have traveled a rocky road recently, having lost nine of their last ten games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 5-9 record this season.
Friday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. River Forest has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .540. However, it's not like Hammond Central struggles in that department as they've averaged .555. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
River Forest took their victory against Hammond Central when the teams last played back in May of 2024 by a conclusive 15-6 score. Do the Ingots have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Wolves turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
