Softball Game Preview: Normal West Wildcats vs. Moline Maroons

The Normal West Wildcats will take on the Moline Maroons at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Moline took a loss in their last match and will be looking to turn the tables on Normal West, who comes in off a win.

Normal West had to skate by with only a one-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the ten-run drubbing they dealt Danville on Thursday. The Wildcats put the hurt on the Vikings with a sharp 11-1 win.

The team relied heavily on Erika Durham, who went 2-for-3 with one home run and two runs. McKinley Pate was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and two runs.

Normal West always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .536. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.

Meanwhile, Moline fought the good fight in their extra-innings game against East Moline United on Thursday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Panthers by a score of 8-7.

Emersyn Rasso was cooking despite her team's loss, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI, and one run. The team also got some help courtesy of Brooke Young, who went 3-for-4 with one run.

Moline has traveled a rocky road recently, having lost three of their last four contests. That's put a noticeable dent in their 5-10 record this season. Even worse, they were so close so many times: the defeats came by an average of only one runs. As for Normal West, their victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 6-6.

Normal West might still be hurting after the 6-0 loss they got from Moline when the teams last played back in May of 2024. Will the Wildcats have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.