Softball Game Preview: Center Hill Mustangs vs. South Panola Tigers

Center Hill is 0-6-1 against South Panola since April of 2019 but things could change on Tuesday. The Center Hill Mustangs are taking a road trip to take on the South Panola Tigers at 6:00 p.m. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Having struggled with eight defeats in a row dating back to last season, Center Hill turned things around against Olive Branch last Thursday. They were the clear victor by a 20-7 margin over the Conquistadors. Considering the Mustangs' hitters had been struggling lately, the high-scoring outing was a much-needed turnaround.

Meanwhile, South Panola came tearing into Tuesday's game with three straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 6.7 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They came out on top in a nail-biter against the Greyhounds, sneaking past 7-5.

Grady Beck Wilson was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out 12 batters over eight innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off 11 hits. That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in March of 2024. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with one double and one RBI.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Hailey Heafner, who scored a run while going 3-for-5. Carrie Anna Davis was another key player, scoring two runs while going 1-for-1.

South Panola hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now struck out at most five strikeouts in 14 consecutive matches.

South Panola's victory was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 14-2. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.6 runs on average over those games. As for Center Hill, their win (their first of the season) made their record 1-7.

Center Hill might still be hurting after the 15-0 loss they got from South Panola when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can Center Hill avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.