Softball Game Preview: Letcher County Central Cougars vs. Pikeville Panthers

The Letcher County Central Cougars will venture away from home to take on the Pikeville Panthers at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Letcher County Central has eight straight victories, Pikeville has three straight losses), but none of that matters once you're on the field.

The home team had won the previous four meetings between Letcher County Central and Cordia, and Letcher County Central kept the tradition alive. The Cougars were the clear victors by a 17-2 margin over the Lions on Tuesday. The result was nothing new for the Cougars, who have now won eight matchups by six runs or more so far this season.

Anna Hatton

Runs Batted In (Career)

04/22/25 vs Cordia	3
04/02/25 vs Parkersburg South	2
03/27/25 vs Pikeville	2
03/21/25 @ Harlan	2
04/19/25 vs Clay County	1

Letcher County Central got a massive performance out of Anna Hatton, who went 1-for-2 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple. Those three RBI gave Hatton a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Addison Collier, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base.

Letcher County Central always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .677. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.

For some reason, the away team has come away with the win the last four times Pikeville and Pike County Central have met, but the home crowd finally got their W on Tuesday. The Panthers lost 8-2 to the Hawks.

Letcher County Central pushed their record up to 14-8 with the win, which was their seventh straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.7 runs on average over those games. As for Pikeville, their defeat dropped their record down to 5-13.

Everything went Letcher County Central's way against Pikeville in their previous matchup back in March, as Letcher County Central made off with a 13-3 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Cougars since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.