Softball Game Preview: Roane County Raiders vs. Clay County Panthers

Roane County is a perfect 10-0 against Clay County since March of 2018 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Wednesday. The Raiders will host the Panthers at 5:00 p.m. Roane County is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 12.8 runs per game this season.

Roane County is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. They blew past Braxton County 25-3 on Tuesday. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Raiders.

Fair Smelko

Hits (Career)

04/15/25 @ Braxton County	4
04/09/25 vs Ripley	3
04/08/25 vs Poca	3
04/15/25 @ Braxton County	2
04/26/24 vs Wahama	2

Fair Smelko was a standout: she went a perfect 4-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and four RBI. Those four hits gave her a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Joplin Harlan, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with four runs, three RBI, and one triple.

Smelko wasn't the only one making solid contact: Roane County kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 22 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least ten hits in five consecutive matchups.

Meanwhile, Clay County came up short against Elk Valley Christian on Friday, falling 9-3. The defeat continues a trend for the Panthers in their meetings with the Eagles: they've now lost three in a row.

Roane County's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 6-3. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 19.7 runs over those games. As for Clay County, their loss dropped their record down to 2-4.

Roane County was able to grind out a solid victory over Clay County in their previous matchup back in April of 2024, winning 4-0. Will the Raiders repeat their success, or do the Panthers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.