Polar Bears
| 04/29/25 @ Upper Scioto Valley | 13 |
| 04/24/25 @ Pandora-Gilboa | 19 |
| 04/22/25 vs Ridgemont | 4 |
| 04/21/25 @ Ridgedale | 1 |
| 04/18/25 vs Cory-Rawson | 14 |
| + 12 more games |
Hardin Northern hasn't had much luck against Elgin recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Polar Bears will head out to take on the Comets at 5:00 p.m. Hardin Northern is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 10 runs per game this season.
Hardin Northern proved they can win big last Thursday (they won by 16) and on Tuesday they proved they can win the close ones too. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 13-12 win over Upper Scioto Valley. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Polar Bears have posted against the Rams since April 5, 2021.
Lyla Holtzberger made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she tossed 4.1 innings while giving up just one earned (and three unearned) runs off five hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with four RBI and one run.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Addy Bacon, who went 2-for-4 with four runs and two stolen bases. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games she's played. Another player making a difference was Kailtyn Whitaker, who went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and three runs.
Hardin Northern kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least ten hits in three consecutive games.
North Baltimore hit Elgin with a four-run first inning on Wednesday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Comets lost 6-0 to the Tigers. Having soared to a lofty ten runs in the game before, the Comets' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.
Madison Hill spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and three unearned) runs on eight hits and racked up 12 Ks.
Hardin Northern is on a roll lately: they've won six of their last seven contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 13-4 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.1 runs over those games. As for Elgin, their loss was their first in the conference, dropping their conference record down to 5-1 and their overall record down to 6-11.
Elgin's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Hardin Northern has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.8 hits per game. It's a different story for Elgin, though, as they've been averaging 9.8 hits. Given Hardin Northern's sizable advantage in that area, the Comets will need to find a way to close that gap.
Hardin Northern suffered a grim 10-2 defeat to Elgin when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Polar Bears avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
