The Paul VI Panthers will face off against the Lightridge Bolts at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. The squads are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Paul VI has struggled recently with five losses in a row, while Lightridge will arrive with three straight victories.
Paul VI fought the good fight in their extra-innings contest against Osbourn Park on Wednesday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Yellowjackets by a score of 15-13. Even though they lost, the Panthers' still made a splash at the plate and bumped their average scoring up to 7 runs per game (they're now ranked -1th in scoring overall).
Ashley Robinson and Natalie Monroe stepped up to the plate in a big way. Robinson scored two runs while going 3-for-5, while Monroe scored two runs and stole a base while going 3-for-5. What's more, Robinson posted three RBI, the most she's had since back in April of 2024. Another player making a difference was Maria Dozier, who scored a run while getting on base in three of her six plate appearances.
Even though they lost, Paul VI always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .531. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their OBP total in three consecutive matches.
Meanwhile, Lightridge got themselves on the board against Centreville on Tuesday, but Centreville never followed suit. They were the clear victors by a 23-0 margin over the Wildcats.
Lightridge got a massive performance out of Maya Thaivalappil, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and four RBI. Riley Thomas was another key player, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with one home run, three runs, and three RBI.
Lightridge's win bumped their record up to 3-0. As for Paul VI, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-5.
Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Paul VI hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .314. However, it's not like Lightridge struggles in that department as they've averaged .419. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
