The Palisades Pumas will take on the Butler Bulldogs at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Palisades took a loss when they played away from home on Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Monday. They put the hurt on Piedmont Community Charter with a sharp 20-8 victory. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Pumas considering their two-run performance the contest before.
Anna Horsky was a standout: she got on base in four of her five plate appearances with three runs, three RBI, and one double. Nadia Lockhart was another key player, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with four RBI, two runs, and one stolen base.
Palisades always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .674. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Piedmont Community Charter only posted an OBP of .320.
For some reason, the away team has come away with the win the last four times Butler and Mallard Creek have met, but the home crowd finally got their W on Tuesday. The Bulldogs were the clear victors by a 17-1 margin over the Mavericks. The Bulldogs haven't had any issues with the Mavericks recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive win against them.
Ashlynne Forrest made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out six over four innings pitched. That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in March of 2025. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two runs and one RBI.
In other batting news, Cherie Carter was incredible, going 3-for-4 with five RBI, three runs, and one triple. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in March of 2025. Another player making a difference was Nevaeh Espaillat, who went 2-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs.
Butler's victory bumped their record up to 10-4. As for Palisades, the win got them back to even at 9-9.
Wednesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Palisades hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .390. However, it's not like Butler struggles in that department as they've averaged .361. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
