Softball Game Preview: Altamont Indians vs. Oblong Panthers

The Altamont Indians will square off against the Oblong Panthers at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Altamont's pitching crew has only allowed 1.2 runs per game this season, so Oblong's hitters will have their work cut out for them.

On Wednesday, Altamont came up short against Mulberry Grove and fell 4-1. The Indians have struggled against the Aces recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive lost meeting.

Sophia Long spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and one unearned) runs on four hits.

Meanwhile, Oblong didn't have quite enough to beat Lawrenceville on Saturday and fell 11-10. The Panthers have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Landee Clark stepped up to lead a balanced group of hitters: she went a perfect 3-for-3 with two doubles, one run, and one RBI. Maggie Bailey was another key player, going 1-for-4 with two stolen bases, two RBI, and one run.

Altamont's loss dropped their record down to 17-9. As for Oblong, they now have a losing record of 7-8.

Oblong's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Monday. Altamont has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 15 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Oblong, though, as they've been averaging only 2.9 strikeouts. Will Altamont keep running through batters, or will the Panthers buck the trend?

Altamont beat Oblong 3-0 in their previous meeting back in April of 2023. Will the Indians repeat their success, or do the Panthers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.