Softball Game Preview: Niles North Vikings vs. Maine East Blue Demons

Niles North is preparing for their first conference matchup of the season on Tuesday. They will host the Maine East Blue Demons at 4:45 p.m. The last three games Niles North has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.

Niles North fought the good fight in their extra-innings game against Elk Grove on Saturday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Grenadiers by a score of 3-2. That's two games in a row now that the Vikings have lost by just one run.

Aaliyah Struthers put in work while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run over six innings pitched. Struthers was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one triple and one RBI. That triple marked the first that she hit this season.

Struthers wasn't the only one making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Analina Tumang, who scored a run while going 1-for-2. Giuliana Vardijan also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.

Meanwhile, Maine East was not able to break out of their rough patch on Saturday as the team picked up their fifth straight defeat. They lost 15-3 to Lake Forest.

Niles North's loss dropped their record down to 5-4. As for Maine East, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-6.

Niles North took their win against Maine East when the teams last played back in May of 2024 by a conclusive 16-3 score. Will the Vikings repeat their success, or do the Blue Demons have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.