The Lapel Bulldogs will take on the Elwood Panthers at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Lapel is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.1 runs per game this season.
Lapel blew Shenandoah out of the water the last time the pair played, but on Saturday Shenandoah got their revenge. The Bulldogs fell just short of the Raiders by a score of 2-0. The Bulldogs were red-hot at the plate heading into the matchup (they scored no less than ten runs in the three contests prior), but the Raiders' pitcher proved too tough.
Addison Bodenhorn spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and one unearned) run on five hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in seven consecutive appearances.
Meanwhile, it may have taken nine innings to finish the job, but Elwood ultimately got the result they hoped for on Saturday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with an 11-10 victory over Lawrence Central. The Panthers' offense finally found a way to get into gear: the high-octane performance was a 180-degree turn from their last three games.
Kelsey Armes was a standout: she got on base in all five of her plate appearances with two runs, two doubles, and one RBI. Those two doubles gave her a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Taylor Hawks, who got on base in four of her six plate appearances with three runs and two RBI.
Elwood kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. They are 6-2 when they post 11 or more hits.
Lapel's loss ended a nine-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 18-6. As for Elwood, their win ended a six-game drought on the road and puts them at 7-15.
Elwood's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Lapel has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.3 hits per game. It's a different story for Elwood, though, as they've been averaging 11.1 hits. Given Lapel's sizable advantage in that area, the Panthers will need to find a way to close that gap.
Lapel took their victory against Elwood in their previous meeting back in May of 2024 by a conclusive 16-5 score. Do the Bulldogs have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Panthers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
