Softball Game Preview: Chesapeake Panthers vs. Dawson-Bryant Hornets

Chesapeake hasn't had much luck against Dawson-Bryant recently, but that could start to change on Wednesday. The Panthers will face off against the Hornets at 5:30 p.m. Chesapeake has given up an average of 13.2 runs per game this season, but Wednesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Chesapeake lost 20-3 to Ironton on Monday.

Chesapeake saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Kaydence Easthom, who went 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI.

Meanwhile, Dawson-Bryant came tearing into Monday's match with seven straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 6.1 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They never let the Dragons get on the board and left with a 10-0 win. The result was nothing new for the Hornets, who have now won six games by seven runs or more so far this season.

Abbie Deeds was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out 15 over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than ten strikeouts in 11 consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two runs and one stolen base.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Izzy Kitts, who went 1-for-3 with one home run and three RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in April of 2024. Kendall Taylor also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.

Dawson-Bryant was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .391. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Fairland only posted a batting average of .000.

Dawson-Bryant pushed their record up to 11-3 with the victory, which was their fourth straight at home. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.3 runs on average over those games. As for Chesapeake, their loss dropped their record down to 6-13.

Chesapeake suffered a grim 11-0 defeat to Dawson-Bryant in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Can the Panthers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.