Softball Game Preview: North Newton Spartans vs. Benton Central Bison

The North Newton Spartans will head out to take on the Benton Central Bison at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Benton Central took a loss in their last matchup and will be looking to turn the tables on North Newton, who comes in off a win.

Benton Central will challenge a team with plenty of momentum: North Newton extended their winning streak to three on Saturday. The Spartans walked away with a 6-2 win over Knox.

Sydney Rainford made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out 11 over six innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in seven consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base. That triple marked the first that she has hit this season.

In other batting news, Rylynn Klemz was excellent, going 1-for-2 with three RBI, one run, and one double. Callie Williams also deserves some recognition as she got her first hit of the season.

Meanwhile, Benton Central lost 9-1 to Tri-County on Saturday. The Bison have struggled against the Cavaliers recently, as the game was their third consecutive lost meeting.

Annie Lank spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered five earned (and four unearned) runs on ten hits.

North Newton's record is now 6-1-1. As for Benton Central, their loss dropped their record down to 2-6.

North Newton took their victory against Benton Central in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 14-0 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Spartans since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.