Softball Game Preview: La Crescent Lancers vs. Cotter Ramblers

The La Crescent Lancers will challenge the Cotter Ramblers at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. The two teams are strolling into their matchups after big wins in their previous games.

Cotter will be up against a hot La Crescent team: the squad just extended their winning streak to four. The Lancers were the clear victors by an 11-2 margin over Plainview-Elgin-Millville on Tuesday.

Alli Johnston

Earned Runs

04/28/26 vs Plainview-Elgin-Millville	1
04/24/26 @ Fillmore Central/Lanesboro	0
04/21/26 @ Dover-Eyota	1

Alli Johnston spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and one unearned) run on five hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Ella Gates, who went 2-for-3 with three stolen bases, four runs, and one RBI. That's the most hits she has posted over her last eight contests. The team also got some help courtesy of Maleah Moldenhauer, who went 1-for-4 with three RBI.

Meanwhile, after only one run in their last game, Cotter made sure to put some runs up on the board against St. Charles on Tuesday. The Ramblers blew past the Saints 11-1. The Ramblers have beaten the Saints the last three times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Saints has come to flipping the script.

Cotter picked up their first home win, bumping their record up to 3-4. As for La Crescent, their victory bumped their record up to 7-5.

La Crescent beat Cotter 6-2 when the teams last played back in May of 2025. Will the Lancers repeat their success, or do the Ramblers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.