Softball Game Preview: Elwood Panthers vs. Tipton Blue Devils

Panthers

Runs

04/30/26 vs Oak Hill	17
04/28/26 @ Frankton	2
04/23/26 vs Mississinewa	5
04/22/26 @ Daleville	4
04/21/26 @ Sheridan	22
+ 7 more games

The Elwood Panthers will head out to face off against the Tipton Blue Devils at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Elwood is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 11.2 runs per game this season.

While Elwood didn't have the best season last year (they finished 8-19), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They walked away with a 17-14 win over Oak Hill on Thursday. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Panthers considering their two-run performance the game before.

Kelsey Armes was incredible, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with one home run and three runs. Another player making a difference was Kenlee Noland, who went 2-for-5 with five RBI, one run, and one double.

Meanwhile, Tipton fell victim to Lewis Cass and their airtight pitching crew on Saturday. They lost 14-0 to the Kings. Having soared to a lofty 19 runs in the game before, the Blue Devils' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.

Elwood's victory was their first in the conference, bumping their conference record up to 1-2 and their overall record up to 9-3. As for Tipton, they have been struggling recently as they've lost seven of their last nine matchups. That's put a noticeable dent in their 5-9 record this season.

Tipton's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Elwood has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 10.2 hits per game. It's a different story for Tipton, though, as they've been averaging 9.9 hits. Given Elwood's sizable advantage in that area, the Blue Devils will need to find a way to close that gap.

Elwood skirted past Tipton 5-4 in their previous matchup back in May of 2025. Will the Panthers repeat their success, or do the Blue Devils have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.