Softball Game Preview: Fort Atkinson Blackhawks vs. Watertown Goslings

Fort Atkinson is 1-7 against Watertown since April of 2018 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Tuesday. The Blackhawks will head out to challenge the Goslings at 5:00 p.m. After the two teams made easy work of their previous opponents, one won't be so lucky on Tuesday.

While Blackhawks fans will have to keep waiting for their team to come home, they shouldn't be too worried about the road trip considering the result of Friday's season opener. Their pitcher stepped up to hand Delavan-Darien a 12-0 shutout on Friday.

Not much got past Leah Ferhman, who gave up just three hits to keep Delavan-Darien off the board.

At the plate, Olivia Rue was a standout: she scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-4. That's the most runs she has posted since back in May of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Olivia Knickrehm, who scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.

Meanwhile, Watertown took care of business in their home opener (and then some) on Friday. They blew past Muskego 9-2.

Cali Craig spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on four hits and racked up six Ks.

On the hitting side, Evelyn Rhodes and Breanna Meracle did most of the damage at the plate: Rhodes scored two runs and stole three bases while going 1-for-3, while Meracle scored three runs while going 3-for-4. Another player making a difference was Ava Novotny, who scored two runs while going 1-for-4.

Fort Atkinson might still be hurting after the 9-0 loss they got from Watertown in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Blackhawks avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.