Williamston Hornets vs. Barry County Christian Eagles: A Saturday Showdown to Watch

Get ready for a Saturday morning thriller as Williamston Hornets take on the Barry County Christian Eagles in what is sure to be a heart-stopping tournament game. Game time is 11:00 a.m., and both teams are red-hot both having just come off nail-biting victories that pushed their mettle and will power to the nth degree.

We begin with Barry County Christian, who’ve already demonstrated they’re not afraid to slug it out to the final inning. Tuesday night, they played host to West Michigan to a game for the nervous spectator, one that made everyone’s hands sweat. In a tug-of-war style of game, the Eagles pulled victory in a 4-3 nail-biter, demonstrating that they can get it done when it’s either/or.

A lot of that success came courtesy of a handful of clutch hitting, but Nathan Loerop’s most particularly in so doing. Loerop saw action for just two at-bats, but made them pay, 1-for-2 and two RBIs. Not only did he assist the team in winning, but recorded a career milestone doing so in the guise of a career-high in RBIs. For a young player who is still discovering himself known, that’s a confidence builder and a great change of momentum going into the next game.

While Barry County Christian is placing itself ahead of schedule early on in the season, at 1-1, that hard-won win is exactly the boost they need heading into Saturday’s match. They’re displaying determination and moments of sheer brilliance that are threatening to any opponent and particularly with guys like Loerop stepping up by leaps.

Throughout the league, though, the Williamston Hornets are soaring. Riding a string of six wins, they head into Saturday’s game with that confidence and that 9-1 mark that says it all. That Harper Creek game last week was another showing of how they do things no matter how close things get.

That game wasn’t a stroll in the park. Harper Creek tested them to the limit, but Williamston managed a 3-2 victory, taking their winning streak to six. The reason that streak is so impressive is that their games have been a hair’s breadth apart from one another. In their last four home games, they’ve won those by an average of 1.25 runs. These are not blowouts these are edge-of-your-seat, close victories. And that sort of firefighting experience good may have them in the driver’s seat when things get hot.

What’s also obvious is that Williamston has a knack for accomplishing it big and accomplishing it when it counts. Maybe it’s timely hitting, stingy defense, or solid pitching, but they’re just getting by enough to outscore their competition. That’s the defining characteristic of a team that is well-rounded enough to win despite the scoreboard not always cooperating.

The Saturday contest will be the setting for a beautiful collision of style and narratives. Barry County Christian would prefer to just keep rolling with the momentum of the early part of the season. They’ve shown they can win ugly, and they don’t mind clutch. For a team seeking consistency, to defeat a hot Williamston team would be gigantic.

For the Hornets, it’s a matter of keeping the streak going and just riding the momentum they’ve gained so far. They’re 9-1 and feeling rather confident, but games like Harper Creek keep them in check, reminding them that every inning counts. A slip, no matter how slight, could well be the door opener for the Eagles.

What were the fans to look forward to? Another cliff-hanger, in which one game would seal the match. Both teams have already had their recent fix of being put through high-pressure matches, and both teams were able to show that they could still win despite such pressure.

Whether your rooting interest is with the tough Eagles or Cinderella Hornets, this game has all the ingredients to be a game to write home about: talented young players at the top of their game, veteran talent crashing it, and two teams that won’t quit.

If you’ve got time Saturday morning, this is one game you’ll want to keep an eye on. It’s got the makings of a classic early-season showdown – one that could give us a glimpse into just how far each team might go this year.

Grab your coffee, get comfortable, and get ready for a fun one. The Williamston Hornets vs. Barry County Christian Eagles – first pitch at 11:00 a.m.

Don’t miss it!

PIC COURTESY: MaxPreps.com