Softball Game Preview: Centralia Orphans vs. Pinckneyville Panthers

Centralia is 1-6 against Pinckneyville since May of 2018 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Monday. The Orphans will venture away from home to take on the Panthers at 4:30 p.m. Centralia is coming into the match hot, having won their last four games.

Centralia had to skate by with only a one-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the ten-run drubbing they dealt Highland on Saturday. The Orphans were the clear victors by a 10-0 margin over the Bulldogs. Considering the Orphans have won seven contests by more than five runs this season, Saturday's blowout was nothing new.

Meanwhile, Pinckneyville entered their game against Tolono Unity on Saturday without any home losses, but there's a first time for everything. The Panthers took a 5-1 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Rockets.

Centralia's victory was their tenth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 18-2. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.0 run on average over those games. As for Pinckneyville, their defeat dropped their record down to 20-6.

Centralia couldn't quite finish off Pinckneyville in their previous meeting back in May of 2024 and fell 11-9. Can the Orphans avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.