Champaign Central is 0-7 against Charleston since April of 2015 but things could change on Wednesday. The Maroons will be playing at home against the Trojans at 4:30 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Champaign Central made up a huge gap compared to their last game against Mattoon, but they still couldn't quite topple them. The Maroons blew past the Greenwave 14-4 on Monday. The victory was just business as usual for the Maroons, who after nine games remain undefeated this season.
Haley Helm
| 04/14/25 @ Mattoon | 7 |
| 04/22/24 vs MacArthur | 4 |
| 03/28/24 @ Urbana | 4 |
| 03/23/24 vs Tri-County [Kansas/Shiloh/Oakland] | 4 |
| 03/24/25 @ St. Teresa | 3 |
Haley Helm made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out eight batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and three unearned) runs off seven hits (and not a single walk). She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in seven consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, firing off two home runs and seven RBI while going 3-for-4. Those seven RBI gave her a new career-high.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Grace Bandy, who scored a run while going 4-for-5. That's the most hits she has posted since back in March of 2024. Another player making a difference was Jaila Davis, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-4.
Champaign Central kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 17 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in 11 consecutive contests dating back to last season.
Meanwhile, Charleston never let their opponents score on Tuesday. They were the clear victors by a 10-0 margin over St. Teresa. The win was nothing new for the Trojans as they're now sitting on four straight.
Railyn Cox was a major factor no matter where she played. She kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out seven over five innings pitched. Cox was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBI.
In other batting news, Charleston let Karley Eastman and Avery Beals run wild. Eastman scored two runs while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances, while Beals scored a run while going 2-for-3. Beals also hit a double, marking her first of the season.
Champaign Central's victory was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 9-0. The road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.3 runs on average over those games. As for Charleston, their victory bumped their record up to 9-3.
Wednesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Champaign Central hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .492. However, it's not like Charleston struggles in that department as they've averaged .376. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Champaign Central couldn't quite finish off Charleston in their previous matchup back in May of 2024 and fell 8-6. Will the Maroons 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.
