Softball Game Preview: Middletown Blue Raiders vs. Spring Grove Rockets

The Middletown Blue Raiders will take on the Spring Grove Rockets at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday.

After dropping their season opener at home, Spring Grove is headed out to face a Blue Raiders squad ready to give their home crowd a win. Middletown came up short against Shippensburg on Wednesday, falling 20-5. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest loss the Blue Raiders have suffered since March 15, 2024.

Hayden Herneisey and Maci Shutt did some serious damage despite the final result: Herneisey scored two runs while going 2-for-2, while Shutt scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-3.

Meanwhile, Spring Grove came into Thursday's contest having lost four straight, but that streak is now in the rearview. They blew past Fairfield 15-5 on Thursday. The high-scoring effort was just what the Rockets needed considering they were shut out in their previous matchup.

Skyla Sigmon was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing three innings while giving up just one earned run but no hits. Sigmon was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI, two doubles, and one triple.

In other batting news, Spring Grove got a massive performance out of Jozalynn Hartman, who scored two runs while going 2-for-2. Laiken Ilgenfritz was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI, one triple, and one run.

Spring Grove always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .656. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Fairfield only posted an OBP of .393.

Middletown skirted past Spring Grove 4-2 when the teams last played back in April of 2022. Does Middletown have another victory up their sleeve, or will Spring Grove turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.