The Hernando Leopards will take on the Pasco Pirates in a tournament on Thursday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Hernando barely beat Central the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Leopards' pitchers stepped up to hand the Bears a 20-0 shutout on Tuesday. The Leopards' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Hernando got a massive performance out of AMMARAE 'RAE' EASTON, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with two triples, two stolen bases, and three runs. Those triples marked the first that EASTON has hit this season. ADDISYN SLOCUM was another key player, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with three stolen bases, four runs, and one double.
Hernando always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .548. The last time their OBP was this high was back in April of 2025.
Meanwhile, Pasco got the win against Zephyrhills on Tuesday by a conclusive 11-0. Considering the Pirates have won three matchups by more than ten runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Morgan Montelongo made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit while striking out 13 over five innings pitched. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run.
In other batting news, Alexandra Rivera was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two triples, three RBI, and two runs. Another player making a difference was Shelby Stevanus, who got on base in all three of her plate appearances with three stolen bases and two runs.
The victory made it two in a row for Pasco and bumps their season record up to 3-1. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 15.0 runs over those games. As for Hernando, the victory got them back to even at 2-2.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Thursday as neither team is afraid to steal. Hernando has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5.5 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Pasco struggles in that department as they've been averaging 3 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
