The Lakota East Thunderhawks are taking a road trip to challenge the Boyd County Lions at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Lakota East is coming into the match on a four-game losing streak.
Oak Hills hit Lakota East with a five-run first inning on Thursday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Thunderhawks took a 9-4 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Highlanders. Thunderhawks fans who chose to attend the game sure picked the wrong one: it was the first time the team's lost against the Highlanders since on Thursday.
Kaleigh Crawford was huge no matter where she played even without the win. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching 2.1 innings while giving up just one earned run off one hit. Crawford was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI.
In other batting news, Abrie Shulte was cooking despite her team's loss, going 1-for-4 with one triple, two RBI, and one run. That triple marked the first that she has hit this season.
Boyd County came out on top against Logan on Friday thanks in part to the team's impressive ten-run third inning. The Lions put the hurt on the Wildcats with a sharp 16-1 victory. Considering the Lions have won nine contests by more than five runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Like Lakota East, Boyd County also got a great game from a two-way player: Elyn Simpkins. On the mound, she tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Simpkins was even better at the plate, going 2-for-3 with five RBI, two runs, and one triple. That's the most RBI she has posted over her last 13 games.
In other batting news, Grace Stephens was a standout: she went a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs, one triple, and one stolen base. That's the most runs she has posted since back in March of 2024. Kyli Kouns was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, three runs, and one triple.
Boyd County kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in five consecutive matchups.
Boyd County has been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 13-9 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.3 runs over those games. As for Lakota East, their defeat dropped their record down to 7-4.
Saturday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Lakota East hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .350. However, it's not like Boyd County struggles in that department as they've averaged .382. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
