Softball Game Preview: Grant Park Dragons vs. Gardner-South Wilmington Panthers

For the second straight game, Grant Park will face off against Gardner-South Wilmington. The Dragons will square off against the Panthers at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Grant Park is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.9 runs per game this season.

Grant Park fell victim to Gardner-South Wilmington and their airtight pitching crew on Tuesday. They took a 5-0 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Panthers. The loss continues a trend for the Dragons in their meetings with the Panthers: they've now lost three in a row.

Cheyenne Hayes

Batters Struck Out

04/29/25 vs Gardner-South Wilmington	11
04/25/25 @ Peotone	10
04/23/25 @ Watseka	15
04/17/25 @ Momence	12
04/15/25 vs Momence	11
+ 3 more games

Cheyenne Hayes spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered five earned runs on five hits and racked up 11 Ks. She has been consistent: she hasn't tossed less than eight strikeouts in eight consecutive appearances.

Gardner-South Wilmington's victory bumped their record up to 12-8. As for Grant Park, their defeat dropped their record down to 9-7.

Grant Park's speedy runners might be the difference in Thursday's game. The Dragons have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.8 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Gardner-South Wilmington, though, as they've been averaging only 1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Grant Park continue to outrun the ball? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.