The Markesan Hornets will challenge the Necedah Cardinals on Thursday. Markesan is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.6 runs per game this season.
While Markesan's win against Westfield Area wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Hornets skirted past the Pioneers 2-1. The victory was familiar territory for the Hornets, who have now won three matchups in a row.
Markesan's win was truly a team effort as five different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Benton VandeBerg, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base and one RBI. Brayden Bruce also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Necedah). They put the hurt on Almond-Bancroft with a sharp 26-17 victory two weeks ago. The high-scoring effort was just what the Cardinals needed considering they were shut out in their previous contest.
Grady Barfknecht and Brady Cross were major factors no matter where they played. On the mound, Barfknecht pitched 2.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Meanwhile, Cross struck out six batters over three innings while giving up just one earned (and six unearned) runs off four hits. Barfknecht also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because Necedah is 2-1 when he allows at most one earned run, but 1-3 otherwise. At bat, Barfknecht went 4-for-5 with four RBI and one stolen base, while Cross fired off four runs, two triples, and five RBI while going 5-for-6. Those two triples gave Cross a new career-high.
In other batting news, Necedah let Elijeah Peak and John Barker run wild. Peak got on base in five of his six plate appearances with six runs, two stolen bases, and three RBI, while Barker went 2-for-5 with five runs, two stolen bases, and four RBI. Peak is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Quinten Fox, who went 2-for-4 with four runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Necedah always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .529. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Markesan's win bumped their record up to 16-8. As for Necedah, their victory bumped their record up to 3-4.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Thursday as neither team is afraid to steal. Markesan has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.1 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Necedah struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.1 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more baseball content.
