Softball Game Preview: South Sumter Raiders vs. DeLand Bulldogs

The South Sumter Raiders will challenge the DeLand Bulldogs at 7:00 p.m. on Monday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.

South Sumter saw some tournament action on Saturday. They walked away with a 10-6 victory over Lake Weir. The win continues a trend for the Raiders in their matchups with the Hurricanes: they've now won six in a row.

Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask DeLand). They blew past Atlantic 23-3 on Friday. The victory was familiar territory for the Bulldogs, who have now won three contests in a row.

Hailey Whidden was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over three innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off three hits (and only one walk). That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in February. She was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring three runs while going 2-for-4. She also hit a double, marking her first of the season.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Payton Mathis, who got on base in all four of her plate appearances with one home run, four runs, and four RBI. That's the most runs she has posted since back in April of 2024. Teagan Squires was another key player, scoring three runs while going 3-for-3.

DeLand kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. They are a perfect 5-0 when they post 11 or more hits.

DeLand now has a winning record of 7-6. As for South Sumter, their win bumped their record up to 10-6.

South Sumter was able to grind out a solid victory over DeLand in their previous meeting back in February, winning 9-6. Does South Sumter have another victory up their sleeve, or will DeLand turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.