The Johnson Central Golden Eagles will face off against the Kaneland Knights at 9:00 a.m. on Friday. Johnson Central is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.4 runs per game this season.
Johnson Central had to skate by with only a two-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the 13-run drubbing they dealt Ketchikan on Thursday. The Golden Eagles were the clear victors by a 14-1 margin over the Kings. The Golden Eagles might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won four matchups by 13 runs or more this season.
Bella Bowen made a splash no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out seven over seven innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one walk in six consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBI and one double. Those four RBI gave her a new career-high.
Mayson Delong
| 04/03/25 vs Ketchikan | 4 |
| 05/13/24 @ Perry County Central | 3 |
| 04/30/24 @ Paintsville | 3 |
| 03/27/25 vs Magoffin County | 1 |
| 03/22/25 vs Letcher County Central | 1 |
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Mayson Delong, who went 2-for-4 with four RBI, one triple, and one stolen base. Those four RBI gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Leah Hall, who scored two runs while getting on base in three of her five plate appearances.
Johnson Central always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .543. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday Kaneland's undefeated season almost came to an end. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past Steele 8-6. While the Knights didn't have the best season last year (they finished 11-14), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Brynn Woods was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out six batters over three innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off two hits. Woods was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-3. That stolen base marked the first that she snagged this season.
In other batting news, Lillyana Crawford and Ellie Peck did most of the damage at the plate: Crawford went 2-for-3 with one triple, two RBI, and one run, while Peck scored two runs and stole two bases while going 2-for-3. Crawford also put up a double, which was her first of the season. Natalie Naab was another key player, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 1-for-3.
Johnson Central has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won six of their last seven games. That's provided a nice bump to their 7-5 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.9 runs over those games. As for Kaneland, their victory bumped their record up to 4-0.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Johnson Central hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .341. However, it's not like Kaneland struggles in that department as they've averaged .365. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
