The Elkhorn North Wolves will take on the Gretna Dragons at 6:30 p.m. on Monday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Elkhorn North 3.7, Gretna 2.7) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Elkhorn North is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Nebraska's top teams: Elkhorn South, who was ranked 18th at the time (Elkhorn North was ranked 20th). The Wolves fell 9-4 to the Storm on Thursday. The Wolves have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Peyton Johnson made the most of her time in the batter's box despite the final result and went 3-for-4 with one home run and two runs. That home run marked the first that she has launched this season.
Meanwhile, Gretna waltzed into their game on Thursday with five straight wins... but they left with six. They beat the Thunderbolts by the very same score they won with in their prior game: 8-4.
Taelyn Rupiper tossed a big game, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out 12 over 5.2 innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Maddie Kurrus, who went 3-for-4 with one home run, five RBI, and two runs. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in August. The team also got some help courtesy of Megan Marshall, who went 1-for-3 with two stolen bases and two runs.
Gretna's victory bumped their record up to 23-6. As for Elkhorn North, their loss dropped their record down to 14-9.
Monday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Elkhorn North hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .342. However, it's not like Gretna struggles in that department as they've averaged .327. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Elkhorn North suffered a grim 7-0 defeat to Gretna in their previous matchup back in August of 2024. Will the Wolves have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
