Softball Game Preview: Wheaton North Falcons vs. Neuqua Valley Wildcats

The Wheaton North Falcons will venture away from home to face off against the Neuqua Valley Wildcats at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Wheaton North is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.2 runs per game this season.

Wheaton North is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Illinois' top teams: St. Charles North, who was ranked 20th at the time (Wheaton North was ranked ninth). The Falcons' pitcher stepped up to hand the North Stars a 3-0 shutout on Tuesday. The home team had taken home the W every time these teams have met since May 4, 2022, but that streak is no more.

The result came thanks to Hannah Wulf's shutout, as she gave up just two hits and racked up six Ks.

Makayla Grantz

Doubles (Career)

04/15/25 @ St. Charles North	2
04/09/25 @ Oak Park-River Forest	1
03/21/25 vs West Chicago	1
05/21/24 vs Geneva	1
05/13/24 vs Glenbard North	1

At the plate, Makayla Grantz was excellent, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI. Those two doubles gave her a new career-high. Abby Del Preto also deserves some recognition as she launched her first home run of the season.

Meanwhile, Neuqua Valley was able to grind out a solid win over Waubonsie Valley on Wednesday, taking the game 6-1. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Wildcats.

Ava Drehs looked comfortable as she struck out seven batters over 2.2 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and not a single walk). She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks any time she's pitched this season.

On the hitting side, Neuqua Valley got a big performance out of Nalia Clifford, who scored two runs while going 2-for-3. The team also got some help courtesy of Cora Dickson, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI and one double.

Wheaton North's record now sits at 10-2. As for Neuqua Valley, their record is now 5-6.

Wheaton North suffered a grim 18-7 defeat to Neuqua Valley in their previous meeting back in April of 2019. Can the Falcons avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.