Softball Game Preview: Huntley Red Raiders vs. Crystal Lake South Gators

For the second straight game, Huntley will face off against Crystal Lake South. The Red Raiders will head out to square off against the Gators at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Huntley's pitching crew has only allowed 3.1 runs per game this season, so Crystal Lake South's hitters will have their work cut out for them.

Huntley took a loss when they played away from home on Tuesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Thursday. They put the hurt on Crystal Lake South with a sharp 11-1 win. Considering the Red Raiders have won nine matchups by more than five runs this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.

The team relied heavily on Ava McFadden, who went 1-for-2 with one home run and three RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in April of 2024. Alyssa Bonner was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one home run.

Huntley hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. They are 10-2 when they post two or more strikeouts.

Crystal Lake South is on a 20-game losing streak (dating back to last season) that has dropped them down to 0-17. As for Huntley, with the victory, they broke their three-game losing streak and moved their record to 17-11.

Crystal Lake South's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Huntley has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 8.7 hits per game. It's a different story for Crystal Lake South, though, as they've been averaging 9 hits. Given Huntley's sizable advantage in that area, the Gators will need to find a way to close that gap. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.