Softball Game Preview: Hector Wildcats vs. Jasper Pirates

Hector is a perfect 3-0 against Jasper since March of 2023 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Monday. Hector will venture away from home to face off against Jasper at 4:30 p.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.

While Hector didn't have the best season last year (they finished 9-12), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. Everything went their way against Danville on Friday as Hector made off with a 12-1 win. The Wildcats might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won seven contests by eight runs or more this season.

Sarena Myers made a splash no matter where she played. She struck out 11 batters over 4.2 innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits (and not a single walk). She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than nine strikeouts any time she's pitched this season. She was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing three bases while going 2-for-3.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Brayleigh Riley, who scored two runs and stole two bases while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances. Those runs were her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Mylah Myers, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-2.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Jasper, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Saturday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 13-12 victory over Norfork on Saturday. The Pirates haven't had any issues with the Panthers recently, as the game was their third consecutive win against them.

Hector's record is now 7-1. As for Jasper, their record now sits at 5-3.

Hector took their victory against Jasper in their previous meeting back in March of 2024 by a conclusive 20-0. Will Hector repeat their success, or does Jasper has a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.