Softball Preview: Shade Panthers vs. Blacklick Valley Vikings
Shade is 6-1 against Blacklick Valley since May of 2015, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Tuesday. The Shade Panthers are on the road again to play the Blacklick Valley Vikings at 4:15 p.m. Shade is strutting in with some hitting muscle, as they've averaged 12 runs per game this season.
After only one run in their last game, Shade made sure to put some runs up on the board against North Star on Monday. Shade was the clear victor by a 19-0 margin over North Star. The result was nothing new for Shade, who have now won three contests by 13 runs or more so far this season.
Payton Maddy was incredible, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 3-for-3. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now stolen at least one in the last three games she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Tori Bowers, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 2-for-2.
Meanwhile, Blacklick Valley was not able to break out of their rough patch on Monday as the team picked up their fifth straight defeat. They fell victim to a tough 18-3 loss at the hands of Meyersdale.
Blacklick Valley saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was MacKenzie Kinter, who went 2-for-2 with a home run, three RBI, and a double.
Shade's win bumped their record up to 3-1. As for Blacklick Valley, their defeat dropped their record down to 1-7.
Blacklick Valley's pitching crew has a tough task ahead of them: Shade has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .532. It's a different story for Blacklick Valley, though, as they've only averaged .365. Will they be able to contain Shade's hitters?
Everything went Shade's way against Blacklick Valley in their previous matchup back in April of 2023 as Shade made off with a 15-4 victory. Will Shade repeat their success, or does Blacklick Valley have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
