The Elmwood Royals will face off against the Van Buren Black Knights at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Van Buren will be up against a hot Elmwood squad: the team just extended their winning streak to six. The Royals never let Arlington get on the board and left with a 10-0 win on Monday.
Cadyn Stewart
| 05/05/25 @ Arlington | 2 |
| 04/30/25 vs Riverdale | 1 |
| 04/28/25 @ McComb | 1 |
| 04/26/25 vs Northwood | 1 |
| 04/17/25 vs Arcadia | 1 |
Cadyn Stewart made a splash while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out nine over five innings pitched. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two hits in three consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, getting on base in all three of his plate appearances with two stolen bases, one run, and one RBI. Those two stolen bases gave him a new career-high.
In other batting news, Elmwood let Ryken Zeigler and Colton Bradford run wild. Zeigler got on base in three of his four plate appearances with two stolen bases, three runs, and one triple, while Bradford got on base in all four of his plate appearances with two stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs. Those two stolen bases gave Bradford a new career-high. Kason Hammer was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI.
Elmwood was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .381. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .355 or higher in three consecutive contests.
Van Buren's found some homefield redemption this week after a overtime loss to Liberty-Benton on Monday. Everything went the Black Knights' way against Vanlue as they made off with a 17-0 victory. The Black Knights' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Elmwood pushed their record up to 14-3 with the win, which was their fifth straight on the road. Those road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.2 runs on average over those games. As for Van Buren, they have been performing incredibly well recently as they've won nine of their last ten matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 16-2 record this season.
Elmwood couldn't quite get it done against Van Buren in their previous matchup back in April of 2024 as they fell 3-0. Can the Royals avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
