The Ledford Panthers will face off against the Oak Grove Grizzlies at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Ledford 2.9, Oak Grove 1.6) so any runs scored will be well earned.
If Ledford beats Oak Grove with 12 runs on Friday, it's going to be the squad's new lucky number: they've won their past two matchups with that exact score. The Panthers blew past Forsyth Home Educators 12-6 on Wednesday. Considering the Panthers have won nine games by more than five runs this season, Wednesday's blowout was nothing new.
Hailey Hoots
| 04/09/25 @ Forsyth Home Educators | 5 |
| 04/02/25 @ Eastern Randolph | 5 |
| 03/28/25 vs Asheboro | 6 |
| 03/13/25 vs Forsyth Home Educators | 8 |
Hailey Hoots was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She didn't allow a single earned run over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 3-for-5. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April of 2024.
In other batting news, Ledford let Nicola Simpson and Alana Herrera run wild. Simpson scored two runs and stole a base while going 4-for-4, while Herrera went 4-for-5 with four RBI and two runs. The dominant performance also gave Simpson a new career-high in doubles (two). Grace Henry was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
Ledford kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 19 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in six consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Oak Grove waltzed into their matchup on Tuesday with eight straight wins... but they left with nine. They walked away with a 7-3 win over the Black Knights.
Mary Peyton Hodge spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on five hits and racked up seven Ks.
At the plate, Harper Sugg was incredible, going 3-for-4 with four RBI, one stolen base, and one run. The team also got some help courtesy of Abby Cruz, who scored three runs while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
Oak Grove's victory was their fifth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 11-5. The road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.2 runs on average over those games. As for Ledford, their victory bumped their record up to 13-4.
Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Ledford hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .385. However, it's not like Oak Grove struggles in that department as they've averaged .318. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Ledford couldn't quite get it done against Oak Grove when the teams last played back in March as they fell 6-1. Will the Panthers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
