Softball Game Preview: Summers County Bobcats vs. Midland Trail Patriots

Summers County hasn't had much luck against Midland Trail recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Bobcats will head out on the road to challenge the Patriots at 5:30 p.m. Summers County has given up an average of 15 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Summers County is headed into Thursday's matchup looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their 19th straight game dating back to last season on Wednesday. They might be feeling deja-vu: they lost 16-8 to Mount View, which was the same score (and result) they got the week prior.

Samantha Cales made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went a perfect 3-for-3 with four stolen bases, two triples, and three runs. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 1.1 stolen bases per game. The team also got some help courtesy of Haley Ratliff, who got on base in all three of her plate appearances with four stolen bases and two runs.

Meanwhile, it may have taken eight innings to finish the job, but Midland Trail ultimately got the result they hoped for on Wednesday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 3-2 win over Greenbrier West. The victory continues a trend for the Patriots in their matchups with the Cavaliers: they've now won five in a row.

Madison Rader spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on six hits and racked up 11 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in ten consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, Midland Trail's win was truly a team effort as three different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Nevaeh Hall, who went 1-for-4 with one stolen base and one run.

Summers County's loss dropped their record down to 0-11. As for Midland Trail, they now have a winning record of 10-9.

Summers County suffered a grim 18-1 defeat to Midland Trail in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Can the Bobcats avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.