Softball Game Preview: Milton Panthers vs. Walton Braves

The Milton Panthers will square off against the Walton Braves at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

While Milton's win against West Florida wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Panthers had just enough and edged out the Jaguars 5-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Panthers have posted against the Jaguars since April 22, 2019.

Alexis Hawthorne was excellent, scoring two runs while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances. Mae Smith also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.

Milton hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post two or more strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Walton got the win against Beechwood on Tuesday by a conclusive 12-1. The Braves might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won four matchups by ten runs or more this season.

Chyanne Gregor made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out seven over five innings pitched. That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in April of 2024. She was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing two bases.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kiley Brooks, who got on base in all three of her plate appearances with one home run and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Alayah Dalton, who scored two runs while going 1-for-2.

Milton's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 7-7. They've had to fight for that success though, as they only beat their opponents by an average of 1.33 runs across that stretch. As for Walton, their victory ended a seven-game drought at home dating back to last season and bumped them up to 4-7.