Softball Game Preview: Allen Park Jaguars vs. Grand Blanc Bobcats

The Allen Park Jaguars are taking a road trip to take on the Grand Blanc Bobcats at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Allen Park's pitching crew has only allowed 3.3 runs per game this season, so Grand Blanc's hitters will have their work cut out for them.

Allen Park had been on a six-game streak of scoring at least ten runs, but Woodhaven put an end to it on Thursday. The Jaguars lost 11-0 to the Warriors. The matchup marked the first time this year in which the Jaguars were not able to get on the board.

Meanwhile, Grand Blanc had already won three in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 10.3 runs) and they went ahead and made it four on Thursday. Their pitcher stepped up to hand the Hawks an 11-0 shutout. Give the Bobcats' pitching crew some credit: that's the team's fourth straight shutout.

The team relied heavily on Kate Mitchell, who went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in May of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Mackenzie Jacobson, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with one stolen base and one run.

Grand Blanc was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .440. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .303 or higher in five consecutive games.

Grand Blanc's win was their eighth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 16-2. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.0 runs over those games. As for Allen Park, their loss ended an 11-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 18-5.

Allen Park suffered a grim 13-5 defeat to Grand Blanc in their previous matchup back in May of 2023. Can the Jaguars avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.