Panthers
| 04/08/25 @ Interlachen | 6 |
| 04/03/25 vs Bell | 2 |
| 04/02/25 vs Gainesville | 6 |
| 04/01/25 vs Bronson | 1 |
| 03/28/25 @ St. Augustine | 11 |
| + 10 more games |
The Newberry Panthers will face off against the Williston Red Devils at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Newberry is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.8 runs per game this season.
Newberry had to skate by with only a two-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the six-run drubbing they dealt Interlachen on Tuesday. The Panthers' pitcher stepped up to hand the Rams a 6-0 shutout. The victory continues a trend for the Panthers in their matchups with the Rams: they've now won five in a row.
Interlachen's batters probably weren't too happy with Madison Rodgers, who pitched a no hitter and racked up six Ks (she gave up two walks). Rodgers has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in ten consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Malana Kennard, who went 2-for-4 with one home run and one stolen base. That home run was her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Tristan Layfield, who went 1-for-4 with one home run.
Kennard wasn't the only one working in the home run department: Newberry lost a few balls and finished the game with two home runs. That's the most home runs they've posted since back in February of 2024.
Meanwhile, Williston was not able to break out of their rough patch on Tuesday as the team picked up their fourth straight loss. They were a single run away from ending the streak, but they lost a 1-0 heartbreaker at the hands of Fort White.
Luna Asencion spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on five hits and racked up eight Ks.
On the hitting side, Williston saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Jayla Coleman, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base and one double.
Newberry's win was their eighth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 13-2. The road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.6 runs on average over those games. As for Williston, their defeat dropped their record down to 10-9.
Williston's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Newberry has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .445. It's a different story for Williston, though, as they've only averaged .362. Will they be able to contain Newberry's hitters?
Newberry might still be hurting after the 15-0 loss they got from Williston in their previous matchup back in May of 2023. Will the Panthers 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.
