Elko is 1-9 against Churchill County since April of 2023 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The Indians will face off against the Greenwave at 8:30 a.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Having struggled with three losses in a row, Elko turned things around against Sparks on Saturday. They put the hurt on the Railroaders with a sharp 19-1 win.
Aly Harzke
| 05/03/25 @ Sparks | 4 |
| 04/30/25 @ Fernley | 1 |
| 04/16/25 @ Lowry | 1 |
| 04/11/25 vs Churchill County | 1 |
| 04/02/25 @ Lowry | 3 |
| 03/29/25 @ Spring Creek | 5 |
Aly Harzke was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she pitched three innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. What's more, she posted four strikeouts, the most she's had since back in March. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
In other batting news, Elko got a massive performance out of Adausha O'Berto, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI. That's the most hits O'Berto has posted since back in March. Addison Seipp was another key player, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with one home run and three RBI.
Elko was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .417. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .300 or higher in three consecutive matches.
Meanwhile, Churchill County entered their tilt with Spring Creek last Saturday with two consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with three. They never let the Spartans get on the board and left with a 15-0 victory. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last three times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.
Like Elko, Churchill County also got a great game from a two-way player: Vernita Fillmore. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out seven over four innings pitched. Fillmore has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-4 with two runs and one RBI.
In other batting news, Churchill County let Kalaya Downs and Sutton Yost run wild. Downs went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI, while Yost went 1-for-2 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. Another player making a difference was Dana Buckmaster, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.
Churchill County pushed their record up to 17-10 with the win, which was their eighth straight at home. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.9 runs over those games. As for Elko, they now have a winning record of 16-15.
Elko's speedy runners might be the difference in Thursday's contest. The Indians have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.3 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Churchill County, though, as they've been averaging only 1.1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Elko continue to outrun the ball?
Elko suffered a grim 10-0 defeat to Churchill County when the teams last played back in April. Can the Indians avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
