Softball Game Preview: St. Helens Lions vs. Banks Braves

The St. Helens Lions will face off against the Banks Braves at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.

On Wednesday, St. Helens made easy work of Stayton and carried off a 12-1 win. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Lions.

The team relied heavily on Maddy Lahey, who went 3-for-5 with one home run, four RBI, and one stolen base. Madelyn Hancock was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.

Meanwhile, Banks had to kick off their season on the road on Tuesday, but they showed no ill effects. They blew past Seaside 15-2.

Naomi Brown and Carys Holscher were a major factor no matter where they played. Throwing, Brown tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Holscher pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits. At the plate, Brown scored two runs while going 2-for-4, while Holscher scored a run while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances. Those two hits gave Brown a new career-high.

In other batting news, Khloe Long was excellent, scoring two runs while going 2-for-5. Another player making a difference was Makayla Prevost, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4.

St. Helens took their victory against Banks when the teams last played back in March of 2024 by a conclusive 10-0. The rematch might be a little tougher for St. Helens since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.