Softball Game Preview: Sycamore Aviators vs. Oak Hills Highlanders

Sycamore is 0-9-1 against Oak Hills since March of 2018 but things could change on Thursday. The Aviators are taking a road trip to take on the Highlanders at 5:00 p.m. The last three games Sycamore has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.

On Tuesday, Sycamore didn't have quite enough to beat Archbishop McNicholas and fell 6-5.

Avery Hartig spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and three unearned) runs on ten hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one walk in four consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, Adeline Murphy and Alex Davis stepped up to the plate in a big way. Murphy went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI, while Davis went 2-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of CeCe Hirsch, who went 2-for-3 with two runs.

Meanwhile, Oak Hills entered their tilt with Lakota West on Wednesday with six consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with seven. They walked away with a 7-4 win over the Firebirds.

Oak Hills' victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 8-3. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.7 runs over those games. As for Sycamore, their defeat dropped their record down to 5-5.

Sycamore might still be hurting after the 16-0 loss they got from Oak Hills when the teams last played back in April of 2023. Can the Aviators avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.