Softball Game Preview: Gillespie Miners vs. O'Fallon Panthers

The Gillespie Miners will take on the O'Fallon Panthers at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. Both teams are coming into the matchup red-hot, with Gillespie sitting on four straight victories and O'Fallon on three.

On Wednesday, Gillespie got the win against Dupo by a conclusive 19-5. The Miners might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine games by seven runs or more this season.

Paxton Reid made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over six innings while giving up just one earned (and four unearned) runs off six hits (and only one walk). She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in nine consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of her five plate appearances with two RBI and one double.

Laci Schuckenbrock

Runs Batted In (Career)

04/16/25 @ Dupo	6
03/17/25 @ Ramsey	3
04/10/24 vs Dupo	3
03/11/24 vs Ramsey	3
04/07/25 vs Lincolnwood	2

In other batting news, Laci Schuckenbrock was incredible, going 3-for-4 with six RBI, two runs, and two doubles. Those six RBI gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Sadie Sholtis, who scored four runs and stole a base while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances.

Gillespie hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They are a perfect 6-0 when they post two or more strikeouts.

For whatever reason, it's the away team that's had the advantage when O'Fallon and Collinsville meet (four straight games heading into this one) and that held true again on Tuesday. The Panthers' pitchers stepped up to hand the Kahoks a 12-0 shutout. That looming 12-0 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Panthers yet this season.

Gillespie's win bumped their record up to 10-5. As for O'Fallon, their victory bumped their record up to 6-8.

Gillespie beat O'Fallon 6-3 when the teams last played back in April of 2023. Do the Miners have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Panthers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.