Howard County: May 2 Baseball Predictions
It’s hard to believe the final month of the high school baseball season is already here. As in most years, weather has forced several games to be canceled or postponed. Fortunately, the forecast looks favorable, and Friday night presents a great chance to enjoy America’s pastime and cheer on local athletes.
Let’s break down this week’s matchups and make a few predictions.
Kokomo 8-4 vs Northwestern 10-4
Kokomo has quickly turned its season around after a 1-4 start. The Wildkats are riding a seven-game winning streak as they head into Friday night’s rivalry matchup. Northwestern, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back from a midseason slump after a strong start to the year. Rivalry games often bring out the best in both teams, but the Tigers’ occasional struggles could come back to bite them.
Statistically, Northwestern holds the edge in several key categories, including on-base percentage and fielding percentage. While Kokomo may be the hotter team, Northwestern has been the more consistent one this season and is expected to secure a big win in front of its home crowd.
Winner: Northwestern
3A #7 Western 12-2 vs Anderson 8-5
Winners of eight of their last nine, Western is hitting its stride at the right time. The Panthers, ranked among the top 10 teams in Class 3A, are looking to stay hot as they hit the road for a matchup against Anderson.
While Anderson has the benefit of home-field advantage, the Indians likely don’t have the depth or talent to keep pace with Western. Head coach Ryan Berryman has assembled a squad that shows no signs of slowing down. The Panthers enter Friday evening as clear favorites.
Winner: Western
Jay’s stats
Last week: 2-2
All-time: 9-3 (85%)
