Softball Game Preview: Rancho Dominguez Lobos vs. Banning Pilots

Rancho Dominguez is 0-7 against Banning since April of 2019 but things could change on Thursday. The Lobos will be playing at home against the Pilots at 3:15 p.m. Rancho Dominguez will be strutting in after a win while Banning will be coming in after a loss.

Rancho Dominguez took a 11-run defeat the last time they faced off against Narbonne, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Lobos narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past the Gauchos 9-8. While the Lobos didn't have the best season last year (they finished 8-10), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.

Meanwhile, after a string of three wins, Banning's good fortune finally ran out on Monday. They fell 8-3 to San Pedro.

Kali Sue made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-4 with one home run, two RBI, and one double. Another player making a difference was Sharon Su'e, who went 1-for-4 with one home run.

The win made it two in a row for Rancho Dominguez and bumps their season record up to 5-1. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 16.0 runs over those games. As for Banning, their loss was their first in the league, dropping their league record down to 2-1 and their overall record down to 6-11.

Rancho Dominguez suffered a grim 21-1 defeat to Banning in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Lobos avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.