Softball Game Preview: Lennox Academy Panthers vs. Compton Early College Rising Phoenix

The Lennox Academy Panthers will face off against the Compton Early College Rising Phoenix at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. Lennox Academy is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 10.4 runs per game this season.

Lennox Academy will roll into the match after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up one run last Wednesday, then bounced right back against Hawthorne Math & Science Academy on Tuesday. The Panthers were the clear victors by a 16-6 margin over the Aviators. The win continues a trend for the Panthers in their matchups with the Aviators: they've now won eight in a row.

Valeria Lopez made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Lopez was also big at the plate, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.

Valerie Lozano-Prado

Hits (Career)

04/08/25 @ Hawthorne Math & Science Academy	2
03/31/25 vs Bishop Conaty-Loretto	1
03/28/25 vs Smidt Tech	1
03/24/25 vs Environmental Charter	1
03/04/25 vs Hawthorne	1

In other batting news, Valerie Lozano-Prado was incredible, scoring two runs and stealing three bases while going 2-for-3. Those two hits gave her a new career-high. Ariana Olmos was another key player, going 2-for-3 with three RBI.

Meanwhile, Compton Early College unfortunately witnessed the end of their seven-game winning streak on Tuesday. They lost 28-5 to Garden Grove. The game marked the Rising Phoenix's lowest-scoring contest so far this season.

Lennox Academy's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 8-5. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 17.3 runs over those games. As for Compton Early College, their defeat dropped their record down to 11-2.

Everything went Lennox Academy's way against Compton Early College in their previous matchup back in April of 2024, as Lennox Academy made off with a 16-6 victory. Will the Panthers repeat their success, or do the Rising Phoenix have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.