Softball Recap: Mattoon Takes a Loss

Mattoon had lost three straight at home, but on Friday they dropped down to 3-4 to make it four. They came up short against the Mt. Zion Braves, falling 24-2. Unfortunately, that's the second time they've come up short against the Braves this season, as they also lost their prior matchup 14-8 on Friday.

Mattoon saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Ava Leo, who went 1-for-2 with one run and one double. Sofia Gomez also deserves some recognition as she got her first hit of the season.

As for Mt. Zion, the victory got them back to even at 5-5. With that win, they brought their scoring average up to 7.4 runs per game.

On Mt. Zion's side, Nikki Ellegood was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she tossed three innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. Ellegood has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one walk in three consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBI, two runs, and one triple. That's the most runs she has posted since back in May of 2025.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Addy Rotz, who went a perfect 5-for-5 with four runs, three RBI, and one triple. Those four runs gave her a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Avelyn Ethell, who went 2-for-4 with three runs, three RBI, and one stolen base.

Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Mattoon will square off against Cumberland at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. As for Mt. Zion, they will face off against Normal Community at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.