The Carroll County Panthers will face off against the Dixie Heights Colonels at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Carroll County's pitching crew heads into the game hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Friday. Everything went their way against Bellevue as they made off with an 18-0 win. The victory continues a trend for the Panthers in their matchups with the Tigers: they've now won three in a row.
Mallory Noble made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Noble was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and one stolen base. That's the most runs she has posted since back in March.
In other batting news, Carroll County got a massive performance out of Kayden Dalton, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with four RBI, two runs, and one stolen base. Those two hits gave Dalton a new career-high. Addy Marsh was another key player, getting on base in all three of her plate appearances with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI.
Carroll County was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .444. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .342 or higher in six consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, Dixie Heights made easy work of Walton-Verona on Saturday and carried off a 10-4 win.
Like Carroll County, Dixie Heights also got a great game from a two-way player: Ava Niemer. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run over four innings pitched. Niemer was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
In other pitching news, Sullee Sheehan looked comfortable as she pitched three innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off three hits.
Back at the plate, Taylor Dewalt was a standout: she went 2-for-4 with two runs, two doubles, and one stolen base. She has been hot recently, having posted at least one stolen base the last three times she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Emma Burford, who went 2-for-4 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.
Carroll County's victory bumped their record up to 10-4. As for Dixie Heights, they now have a winning record of 10-9.
Monday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Carroll County hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .374. However, it's not like Dixie Heights struggles in that department as they've averaged .334. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Carroll County's way against Dixie Heights in their previous meeting back in April of 2025, as Carroll County made off with an 11-1 win. Do the Panthers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Colonels turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
