Softball Preview: Van Vleck Leopards vs. Kountze Lions
Van Vleck is on a nine-game streak of home wins (dating back to last season), while Kountze is on a 13-game streak of away wins: one of those streaks is about to end. The Van Vleck Leopards will take on the Kountze Lions at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. The last four games Van Vleck has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
Van Vleck is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They won by a run and slipped past Anahuac 5-4. That's two games straight that Van Vleck has won by just one run.
Keira Reis made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she pitched six innings while giving up just two earned runs off six hits. Reis has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive pitching appearances. Reis was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 1-for-4.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Olivia Britton, who went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Kylie Sazera, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-2.
Meanwhile, Kountze had just enough and edged Danbury out 6-4 on Friday.
Kyla Parker spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned runs on seven hits and racked up 11 Ks.
At the plate, Kitty Coe was incredible, going 1-for-3 with a home run and four RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Kiley Kunk, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
Van Vleck has been performing well recently as they've won 17 of their last 20 contests, which provided a nice bump to their 23-5-1 record this season. As for Kountze, their win bumped their record up to 34-5.
Thursday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Van Vleck has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .457. However, it's not like Kountze struggles in that department as they've averaged .470. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
