Softball Game Preview: Bonanza Antlers vs. Illinois Valley Cougars

The Bonanza Antlers will venture away from home to face off against the Illinois Valley Cougars at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Bonanza comes in still looking for their first win of the season.

For some reason, the away team has come away with the win the last five times Bonanza and Chiloquin have met, but the home crowd finally got their W on Friday. The Antlers lost 18-3 to the Panthers/Queens.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Illinois Valley, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Wednesday. They were the clear victors by a 15-9 margin over Glendale on Friday. The result was nothing new for the Cougars, who have now won six matches by six runs or more so far this season.

Illinois Valley's win was their fifth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 7-1. The team dominated over that stretch too, winning by an average of 10.4 runs. As for Bonanza, their loss dropped their record down to 0-9.

Bonanza suffered a grim 16-6 defeat to Illinois Valley in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Can the Antlers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.