Softball Game Preview: Jackson Polar Bears vs. Hoover Vikings

The Jackson Polar Bears will venture away from home to face off against the Hoover Vikings at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Jackson will be looking to extend their current five-game winning streak.

On Saturday, Jackson was able to grind out a solid victory over Strongsville, taking the game 8-4.

Courtney Helle spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and two unearned) runs on five hits and racked up 11 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in ten consecutive appearances.

Morgan Christopher

Doubles (Career)

05/10/25 vs Strongsville	3
04/17/25 vs Louisville	1
04/11/25 vs Perry	1
04/03/25 vs Hoover	1
03/27/25 @ Westerville South	1

On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Morgan Christopher, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three doubles and two RBI. Those three doubles gave her a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Madi Moden, who went 3-for-4 with two runs and one double.

They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Jackson kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in three consecutive contests.

Meanwhile, after soaring to ten runs the game before, Hoover was a bit more limited in their matchup on Wednesday. They lost 8-1 to Perry. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest loss the Vikings have suffered against the Panthers since May 27, 2021.

Jackson pushed their record up to 16-5-1 with the win, which was their third straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.7 runs over those games. As for Hoover, their defeat dropped their record down to 11-8.

Jackson came out on top in a nail-biter against Hoover in their previous meeting back in April, sneaking past 3-1. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Polar Bears since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.