Softball Game Preview: Vallivue Falcons vs. Burley Bobcats

The Vallivue Falcons will face off against the Burley Bobcats at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.

Vallivue is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Idaho's top teams: Nampa, who was ranked 17th at the time (Vallivue was ranked 21st). The Falcons took a 14-11 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Bulldogs on Tuesday. The defeat continues a trend for the Falcons in their meetings with the Bulldogs: they've now lost three in a row.

Evonny Gonzales stepped up to lead a balanced group of hitters: she went 4-for-5 with four RBI, two doubles, and one run. Kenley Leuthold was another key player, scoring three runs while going 3-for-4.

Burley not only won on Tuesday, but they posted their biggest win since April 13, 2024. They were the clear victors by a 14-1 margin over Century. Considering the Bobcats' hitters had been struggling lately, the high-scoring outing was a much-needed turnaround.

Burley's first victory this season bumped their record up to 1-3. As for Vallivue, their loss dropped their record down to 8-4.

Everything went Vallivue's way against Burley in their previous meeting back in March of 2024, as Vallivue made off with a 15-6 win. Will the Falcons repeat their success, or do the Bobcats have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.