Softball Game Preview: North Pole Patriots vs. Lathrop Malemutes

North Pole is on a nine-game streak of home losses dating back to last season, and Lathrop a five-game streak of away losses. However, someone's due for a change in luck on Tuesday. The North Pole Patriots will look to defend their home field against the Lathrop Malemutes. Having both just faced considerable losses, both teams are looking to turn things around.

North Pole is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Alaska's top teams: Ketchikan, who was ranked sixth at the time (North Pole was ranked 15th). The Patriots came up short against the Kings last Friday, falling 25-0. The match marked the first time this year in which the Patriots were not able to get on the board.

Lathrop couldn't beat Colony on Saturday even though they stacked four runs on them in the fourth inning. The Malemutes lost 16-7 to the Knights.

Kaylee Himes was cooking despite her team's loss, going 3-for-4 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. Peyton Hamilton was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one run and one RBI.

Lathrop's defeat dropped their record down to 1-7. As for North Pole, their loss dropped their record down to 0-7.

North Pole might still be hurting after the 15-5 defeat they got from Lathrop in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Can the Patriots avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.