Softball Game Preview: Fairfax Lions vs. Venice Gondoliers

Fairfax hasn't had much luck against Venice recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Lions will challenge the Gondoliers at 4:30 p.m. Fairfax has given up an average of 14.6 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Fairfax is headed into Thursday's match looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their 15th straight game dating back to last season on Monday. They lost 18-8 to Palisades.

Yasmin Gonzalez was cooking despite her team's loss, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 2-for-3. Keithsy Segura was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.

Meanwhile, Venice strolled into their game on Monday with a perfect record and they left with the same. They walked away with a 5-1 victory over Hamilton.

Monserrath Zapata spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on three hits and racked up 13 Ks.

On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Sandy Carrera, who went 2-for-3 with one home run and one stolen base. Allison Cunningham also deserves some recognition as she scored her first run of the season.

Venice's win was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 9-0. Those road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.8 runs on average over those games. As for Fairfax, their loss dropped their record down to 0-11.

Fairfax suffered a grim 19-0 defeat to Venice in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Lions avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.