The Shawnee Redskins will square off against the Villa Grove Blue Devils at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Shawnee has given up an average of 7.8 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Shawnee is headed into Friday's contest looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their third straight game on Wednesday. They came up short against Zeigler-Royalton, falling 15-1.
Shawnee saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Eliza Ford, who scored a run while going 1-for-2. Aniston Nicholson also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.
Meanwhile, after only one run in their last match, Villa Grove made sure to put some runs up on the board against Blue Ridge on Monday. The Blue Devils were the clear victors by a 10-2 margin over the Knights. The result was nothing new for the Blue Devils, who have now won three games by eight runs or more so far this season.
Piper Kiser made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out ten batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off six hits. Kiser was also big at the plate, scoring four runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances. What's more, she posted two home runs, the most she's had since back in May of 2024.
In other batting news, Villa Grove let Hayden Thomas and Olivia Jones run wild. Thomas scored three runs and stole two bases while going 2-for-2, while Jones went 2-for-4 with four RBI, two doubles, and one run. Those four RBI gave Jones a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Madison Hinds, who scored a run while going 3-for-4.
Villa Grove kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Blue Ridge only managed eight hits.
Villa Grove's win bumped their record up to 4-2. As for Shawnee, their loss dropped their record down to 3-5.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Shawnee hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .322. However, it's not like Villa Grove struggles in that department as they've averaged .320. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
