Softball Game Preview: Palisades Pumas vs. Lakewood Gators

The Palisades Pumas will challenge the Lakewood Gators at 11:15 a.m. on Thursday. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Palisades has three straight wins, Lakewood has three straight losses), but none of that matters once you're on the field.

On Wednesday, Palisades was able to grind out a solid victory over Marietta, taking the game 8-5.

Zahria Montgomery spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and two unearned) runs on nine hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances.

At the plate, Janiya Johnson was excellent, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 2-for-4. What's more, she posted two RBI, the most she's had since back in March. Another player making a difference was Gracie Goodrich, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 1-for-3.

Meanwhile, Lakewood came up short against Oak Glen on Tuesday and fell 6-2.

Palisades' win bumped their record up to 9-11. As for Lakewood, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-9.