The Delaware Christian Eagles will challenge the Northside Christian Lions at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
On Friday, Delaware Christian made easy work of Wellington School and carried off a 14-4 win. The victory continues a trend for the Eagles in their matchups with the Jaguars: they've now won six in a row.
Ava Hovda was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she tossed five innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off eight hits. Hovda was even better at the plate, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base. That triple marked the first that she has hit this season.
Claire Costello
| 04/18/25 vs Wellington School | 3 |
| 04/18/24 @ Mansfield Christian | 2 |
| 04/17/25 vs Shekinah Christian | 1 |
| 04/14/25 @ Madison Christian | 1 |
| 04/16/24 @ Shekinah Christian | 1 |
In other batting news, Delaware Christian let Claire Costello and Cosette Stump run wild. Costello went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs, while Stump went 2-for-3 with three runs, one triple, and one stolen base. Those three RBI gave Costello a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Anna Carroll, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base.
Delaware Christian kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. They are 3-1 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Northside Christian got the win against Liberty Christian Academy on Thursday by a conclusive 19-4.
Molly Ford made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching five innings while giving up three earned (and one unearned) runs off only one hit. Ford was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with five stolen bases, four runs, and four RBI.
In other batting news, Northside Christian got a massive performance out of Claire Kester, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three stolen bases, four runs, and two RBI. Sofia Stafford was another key player, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with two stolen bases, three RBI, and one double.
Delaware Christian's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 3-5. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 14.3 runs over those games. As for Northside Christian, their win (their first of the season) made their record 1-2.
Monday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Delaware Christian hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .386. However, it's not like Northside Christian struggles in that department as they've averaged .333. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
