A feisty cat fight will be fought as Oak Ridge Wildcats take on Lenoir City Panthers at 6:00 p.m. on Monday.
Oak Ridge is coming in off a wild two-game stretch: after soaring to 19 runs on Tuesday, they were much more limited against Karns on Wednesday. They came up short against the Beavers, falling 11-1. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest loss the Wildcats have suffered since May 7, 2024.
Oak Ridge saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Brenna Bradshaw, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-3.
Meanwhile, Lenoir City entered their tilt with Midway on Friday with two consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with three. They blew past the Green Wave 20-10. The Panthers' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Reagan Helton was a standout: she went 4-for-5 with one home run, six RBI, and three runs. Those six RBI gave her a new career-high. Kylee Hanson was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while going 4-for-5.
Lenoir City was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .550. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
Oak Ridge has traveled a rocky road recently, having lost five of their last six games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 3-5 record this season. Lenoir City's victory bumped their record up to 4-2.
Lenoir City's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Oak Ridge has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.4 hits per game. It's a different story for Lenoir City, though, as they've been averaging 11.7 hits. Given Oak Ridge's sizable advantage in that area, Lenoir City will need to find a way to close that gap.
Oak Ridge couldn't quite get it done against Lenoir City when the teams last played last Tuesday as they fell 7-2. Will Oak Ridge have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
