Momentum on the Line as Howard County Baseball Teams Close Regular Season
The regular season is nearing its conclusion, and area baseball teams have one final opportunity to build momentum before sectional play begins next week. With postseason brackets set and every game carrying added importance, coaches will be looking for clean defense, timely hitting and strong pitching performances as their teams prepare for tournament play.
Friday’s slate features several intriguing matchups, including teams looking to continue recent success and others hoping to end the regular season on a positive note. Here is a closer look at two games that could provide a glimpse of which teams are ready to carry momentum into the postseason.
Twin Lakes (18-8) vs Kokomo (7-16)
Kokomo’s first season under head coach Eric Dill has featured more challenges than successes. Still, the Wildkats have shown signs of growth in recent weeks, highlighted by a 7-5 victory over Hamilton Heights for their first nonconference win of the season. Kokomo will look to carry that momentum into its regular-season finale against Twin Lakes.
Twin Lakes has been one of the area’s most consistent teams this spring. The Indians recently defeated Western to capture the Hoosier Conference championship and have won nine of their last 10 games. One of the biggest differences in this matchup has been defensive consistency. Twin Lakes has averaged fewer than two errors per game, while Kokomo has committed 3.4 errors per contest. The Wildkats also enter Friday’s matchup with a below-average team batting average, making clean defense and timely hitting key if they hope to end the regular season on a high note.
Winner: Twin Lakes
Tipton (7-16) vs Taylor (2-15)
Taylor recently added a game to its schedule after weather forced the postponement of its rivalry matchup with Tipton. Now, the Titans and Blue Devils are set to square off Friday night in a contest that could provide valuable momentum heading into next week’s sectional tournament. With both teams carrying below-.500 records, finishing the regular season on a positive note will be a priority.
Tipton enters the matchup having dropped five of its last seven games, but the Blue Devils remain a dangerous opponent capable of finding a spark before the postseason. For Taylor, the magic number Friday night may be seven. The Titans have scored at least seven runs in both of their victories this season and have reached that mark only one other time. While the matchup appears evenly matched on paper, Taylor’s confidence and productivity at the plate could be the storyline that ultimately decides the game.
Winner: Tipton
As the regular season comes to a close and sectional play approaches, Friday presents one final opportunity for teams to sharpen their play, build momentum and gain confidence before the postseason begins. With several area teams looking to finish strong, execution in all phases of the game could make the difference between carrying positive momentum into next week or heading into sectionals searching for answers.
The Kokomo Post Sports team will be at Taylor High School providing live coverage, score updates and highlights throughout the evening. Be sure to follow along on our social media platforms and website for complete coverage of the action as the regular season comes to an end.
Jay’s stats
2025-2026 sports season: 77-32 (70.6%)
