Colton Rapp was the spark Goshen needed, and the RedHawks are rolling because of it.

In a dominant 12-6 win over Northridge on Wednesday, May 6, at the Goshen Baseball-Softball Complex, the senior catcher delivered a performance that had his coach calling him the team's emotional engine. Rapp reached base in all four plate appearances, smacked two doubles and a single, and scored three times to lead the Northern Lakes Conference front-runners.

But Rapp's impact wasn't limited to the batter's box. Behind the plate, he handled starter Bray Hoag and reliever Jensen Meikle with poise, even throwing out a would-be base stealer. For a three-year starter at catcher, it was business as usual—but his leadership made all the difference.

"He is incredibly valuable," said RedHawks head coach JJ DuBois. "He's the catalyst of our emotions. When he's positive and upbeat, our team follows suit. When he's not, we sink down. It's important for him to respond well when things aren't going well. He did a great job tonight."

Goshen found themselves in an early 3-0 hole, but Rapp refused to let the team's energy dip. "I knew I had to pick it up," he said. "On the bases, I was applying pressure and making (Northridge) make plays. If we stay aggressive on the base paths, it's definitely going to take us a long way."

That aggression paid off. The RedHawks racked up 11 hits and swiped seven bases—three from sophomore Manny Pizana, two from senior Bryson Wilson, and one each from Rapp and sophomore Spencer Elliott. Seniors Bryson Wilson and Jaxon Miller crossed the plate twice, while Miller and reliever Meikle each drove in two runs.

On the mound, Hoag worked four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with one strikeout and three walks. Meikle closed the door with three innings of relief, fanning three while surrendering two runs and four hits. "He threw well," DuBois said of Meikle. "That's the most he's gone all year."

The win pushed Goshen to 11-4 overall and 7-1 in conference play, keeping them atop the NLC standings. Northridge, now 6-10 and 2-6, battled but couldn't overcome the RedHawks' speed and depth. The Raiders used four pitchers—left-hander Mason Zimmerman and right-handers Caleb Irwin, Sam Canfield, and Ethan Yoder—but couldn't slow Goshen's attack.

Offensively, the Raiders had bright spots. Junior Aveary Johnson and sophomore Quinn Knepp each collected three hits, while junior Hayden Gorball added two. "Quinn is seeing the ball real well right now," said Northridge coach Chad Gerard. "He hit the ball hard. He's a kid we've got a lot of confidence in when he's at the plate."

But the Raiders left 10 runners on base, including six in scoring position—a stat that proved costly against a red-hot Goshen squad. "They're good all the way around," Gerard admitted. "They can pitch. They can hit. They can run."

For the RedHawks, it's that combination that has them in the driver's seat—and Rapp, with his bat, glove, and infectious energy, is steering the ship.