Softball Game Preview: Zillah Leopards vs. Naches Valley Rangers

The Zillah Leopards will face off against the Naches Valley Rangers at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. The teams are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Zillah has struggled recently with four losses in a row, while Naches Valley will arrive with three straight victories.

Zillah came up short against Prosser on Tuesday, falling 13-7.

Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Naches Valley). They were the clear victors by a 26-2 margin over Wahluke on Saturday. The team's explosion at the plate also rewarded the Rangers with their most commanding win of the season.

Naches Valley pushed their record up to 5-8 with the win, which was their fourth straight at home. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 19.8 runs over those games. As for Zillah, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-10.

Zillah beat Naches Valley 9-5 when the teams last played back in May of 2024. Will the Leopards repeat their success, or do the Rangers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.