Softball Game Preview: Alton Redbirds vs. Althoff Catholic Crusaders

The Alton Redbirds will head out on the road to challenge the Althoff Catholic Crusaders at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Alton will be strutting in after a win while Althoff Catholic will be coming in after a loss.

Having struggled with four defeats in a row, Alton turned things around against East Alton-Wood River on Saturday. They walked away with an 8-5 victory over the Oilers.

Makenzie Rayfield

Hits (Career)

05/03/25 vs East Alton-Wood River	3
04/22/25 @ East St. Louis	2
04/12/25 @ Southwestern	1
04/09/25 vs Father McGivney Catholic	1
04/08/25 vs Edwardsville	1

Makenzie Rayfield made a splash no matter where she played. She pitched seven innings while giving up three earned (and two unearned) runs off nine hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI. Those three hits gave her a new career-high.

In other batting news, Alton let Ava Taulbee and Josie Landuyt run wild. Taulbee earned three RBI, one run, and one stolen base, while Landuyt went 1-for-2 with one stolen base, one run, and one double. Those three RBI gave Taulbee a new career-high.

Meanwhile, after soaring to 25 runs the game before, Althoff Catholic was a bit more limited in their game on Monday. They lost 18-1 to Metro-East Lutheran. The Crusaders haven't had much luck with the Knights recently, as the team has come up short the last four times they've met.

Althoff Catholic saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Anna Rodriguez, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one stolen base and one run.

Althoff Catholic's loss dropped their record down to 1-11. As for Alton, they picked up their first home win, bumping their record up to 3-15.

Everything went Alton's way against Althoff Catholic when the teams last played back in May of 2021, as Alton made off with a 7-0 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Redbirds since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.