The Pius X Thunderbolts will face off against the Gretna Dragons at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Pius X is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.2 runs per game this season.
On Tuesday, Pius X needed a bit of extra time to put away Wayne. They came out on top in a nail-biter against the Blue Devils, sneaking past 8-7. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Thunderbolts have posted since September 28, 2024.
Adee Duggan made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out six batters over six innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-5 with two runs and one RBI.
Libby Preister
| 09/30/25 vs Wayne | 4 |
| 08/29/25 vs Lincoln Southeast | 3 |
| 10/12/24 @ Skutt Catholic | 3 |
| 09/23/25 @ Standing Bear | 2 |
| 08/28/25 vs Grand Island | 2 |
In other batting news, Libby Preister was excellent, going a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs, two doubles, and two RBI. Those four hits gave her a new career-high. Katherine Hoefener was another key player, going 3-for-4 with one double and one RBI.
Pius X kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. They are 9-1 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Gretna faced Blair in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Tuesday. The Dragons came out on top against the Bears by a score of 8-4. The win continues a trend for the Dragons in their matchups with the Bears: they've now won eight in a row.
Taelyn Rupiper spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned runs on five hits and racked up seven Ks.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Maddie Kurrus, who fired off two home runs and three RBI while going 2-for-4. The team also got some help courtesy of Megan Marshall, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI, one triple, and one run.
Pius X's victory bumped their record up to 12-14. As for Gretna, their win bumped their record up to 22-6.
Fans could be in store for some top-tier slugging on Thursday. Pius X hasn't had any problems when it comes to power this season, having averaged 0.7 home runs per game. However, it's not like Gretna struggles in that department as they've been averaging 0.5 home runs. With so much power on both teams, it'll be down to the pitchers to keep the mound locked down.
Pius X suffered a grim 8-0 defeat to Gretna in their previous meeting back in October of 2024. Will the Thunderbolts have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
