Softball Preview: Maclay Marauders vs. St. John Paul II Panthers
Maclay is 9-1 against St. John Paul II since April of 2015, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Tuesday. The Maclay Marauders will be playing at home against the St. John Paul II Panthers at 4:30 p.m. Both teams come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Maclay can now show off three landslide victories after their most recent matchup on Thursday. Their pitcher stepped up to hand Jefferson County a 19-0 shutout. While fans of Maclay might be used to big wins, the 19-run margin marked the team's biggest victory yet this season.
Victoria Gainey made a splash while hitting and pitching. She pitched 2.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Gainey was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring four runs while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
In other batting news, Addison Liepshutz was incredible, scoring four runs and stealing a base while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances. She is trending in the right direction, as she's improved her point production for three straight games. Another player making a difference was Emmi Cayer, who scored two runs while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
Meanwhile, St. John Paul II waltzed into their match on Monday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They came out on top against the Tigers by a score of 4-1.
Like Maclay, St. John Paul II also got a great game from a two-way player: Amanda Thompson. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 18 batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. Thompson has been consistent recently: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in seven consecutive pitching appearances. Thompson was also big at the plate, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
The win made it two in a row for Maclay and bumps their season record up to 4-6. As for St. John Paul II, their victory bumped their record up to 12-2.
Tuesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Maclay has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .521. However, it's not like St. John Paul II struggles in that department as they've averaged .542. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Maclay suffered a grim 15-5 defeat to St. John Paul II in their previous matchup back in March of 2023. Will Maclay have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
