Softball Game Preview: D.H. Conley Vikings vs. Northside - Jacksonville Monarchs

D.H. Conley is a perfect 7-0 against Northside - Jacksonville since March of 2022 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Thursday. The Vikings will welcome the Monarchs at 6:00 p.m. Neither D.H. Conley nor Northside - Jacksonville posted many runs in their last games, so it might be the pitching crews that decide this one.

D.H. Conley fought the good fight in their extra-innings match against Bear Grass Charter on Monday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Bears by a score of 2-1. The Vikings have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Kendall Howard

Batters Struck Out

04/28/25 @ Bear Grass Charter	6
04/24/25 vs New Bern	21
04/19/25 vs South Lenoir	18
04/19/25 vs Ayden - Grifton	6
04/17/25 @ J.H. Rose	10
+ 13 more games

Kendall Howard was huge no matter where she played even without the win. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over 7.1 innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off five hits. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in 18 consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with one run and one double.

Howard wasn't the only one making solid contact as two players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Reagan Stocks, who got on base in all three of her plate appearances with one RBI.

Meanwhile, Northside - Jacksonville was not able to break out of their rough patch on Tuesday as the team picked up their 37th straight defeat dating back to last season. They lost 20-0 to Havelock.

Northside - Jacksonville's loss dropped their record down to 0-19. As for D.H. Conley, their defeat dropped their record down to 16-5.

Everything went D.H. Conley's way against Northside - Jacksonville in their previous matchup last Tuesday, as D.H. Conley made off with a 19-0 win. Will the Vikings repeat their success, or do the Monarchs have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.