Softball Game Preview: Payton College Prep Grizzlies vs. Elmwood Park Tigers

The Payton College Prep Grizzlies are taking a road trip to take on the Elmwood Park Tigers at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Elmwood Park took a loss in their last matchup and will be looking to turn the tables on Payton College Prep, who comes in off a win.

Payton College Prep barely beat Juarez the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Grizzlies were the clear victors by a 19-1 margin over the Eagles on Thursday. The game marked the Grizzlies' most dominant victory of the season.

Athena Corrales spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on two hits.

At the plate, Sophie Spreen was a standout: she went a perfect 2-for-2 with three stolen bases, three runs, and four RBI. That's the most hits she has posted since back in May of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Saya Tanabe, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three stolen bases, three runs, and one RBI.

Payton College Prep always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .812. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.

Meanwhile, Elmwood Park was not able to break out of their rough patch on Thursday as the team picked up their seventh straight loss. They lost 12-4 to Bartlett.

Elmwood Park saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Abigail Jarosz, who went 1-for-4 with one home run and two RBI. That home run marked the first that Jarosz has launched this season. Isabel Hall was another, going 1-for-3 with two stolen bases, one run, and one RBI.

Elmwood Park's defeat dropped their record down to 3-9. As for Payton College Prep, their record is now 5-10.

Payton College Prep suffered a grim 9-1 defeat to Elmwood Park in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Can the Grizzlies avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.