Softball Game Preview: Mascoutah Indians vs. Belleville West Maroons

The Mascoutah Indians will head out to take on the Belleville West Maroons at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

Waterloo hit Mascoutah with a six-run first inning on Wednesday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Indians fell 12-7 to the Bulldogs. The Indians have struggled against the Bulldogs recently, as the game was their third consecutive lost meeting.

Belleville West came out on top against Alton on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive four-run third inning. The Maroons were the clear victors by an 8-2 margin over the Redbirds. The victory continues a trend for the Maroons in their matchups with the Redbirds: they've now won six in a row.

Ellaina Jenkins spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on four hits and racked up 15 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in six consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Ella Weaver, who went 2-for-4 with one triple and two RBI. That triple was her first of the season. Charli Coppernoll was another key player, going 1-for-4 with two RBI and one run.

Mascoutah's defeat dropped their record down to 6-4. As for Belleville West, their win bumped their record up to 7-5.

Mascoutah took their victory against Belleville West in their previous matchup back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 19-10 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Indians since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.