Softball Game Preview: Centennial Eagles vs. Long Reach Lightning

The Centennial Eagles will head out to square off against the Long Reach Lightning at 4:00 p.m. on Monday. The two teams are strolling into their contests after big wins in their previous games.

Long Reach will take on a team with plenty of momentum: Centennial extended their winning streak to three on Tuesday. Everything went the Eagles' way against Wilde Lake as they made off with a 19-1 victory. Considering the Eagles have won four matches by more than five runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.

Lauren Jensen was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in both of her plate appearances with two runs and one RBI. That RBI was her first of the season.

In other batting news, Layla Schroyer and Maddie Reese did most of the damage at the plate: Schroyer went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs, while Reese went a perfect 4-for-4 with five RBI, two runs, and one stolen base. That home run marked the first that Schroyer has launched this season. Sarah Middleton was another key player, going 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBI, and one double.

Centennial always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .727. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their OBP total in three consecutive games.

For whatever reason, it's the away team that's had the advantage when Long Reach and Oakland Mills meet (four straight games heading into this one) and that held true again on Wednesday. The Lightning blew past the Scorpions 15-2. The contest marked the Lightning's most dominant win of the season so far.

Long Reach's victory was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 4-6. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.0 runs over those games. As for Centennial, their record now sits at 6-4.

Centennial suffered a grim 7-1 defeat to Long Reach when the teams last played back in March. Can the Eagles avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.