Softball Game Preview: North Valleys Panthers vs. Sparks Railroaders

For the second straight game, North Valleys will face off against Sparks. The Panthers will take on the Railroaders at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. North Valleys is coming into the match hot, having won their last eight games.

Sparks' hitters are going to have their work cut out for them on Saturday: North Valleys hadn't allowed a single run the last three times they've hit the field. The Panthers' pitcher stepped up to hand the Railroaders a 15-0 shutout on Thursday. Considering the Panthers have won 11 contests by more than six runs this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.

Jordan Gainey was a standout: she went 3-for-5 with three RBI, two runs, and one double. Another player making a difference was Caylee Soap, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.

They weren't the only ones making solid contact: North Valleys kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 19 hits. That's the most hits they've posted since back in April of 2024.

North Valleys pushed their record up to 13-8 with the victory, which was their sixth straight on the road. Those road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.7 runs on average over those games. As for Sparks, they moved to 5-7 with that loss, which also ended their three-game winning streak.

Saturday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. North Valleys has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .525. However, it's not like Sparks struggles in that department as they've averaged .528. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.