Softball Game Preview: McGuffey Highlanders vs. Charleroi Cougars

For the second straight game, McGuffey will face off against Charleroi. The Highlanders will look to defend their home field on Monday against the Cougars at 4:00 p.m. McGuffey is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8 runs per game this season.

For whatever reason, it's the away team that's had the advantage when McGuffey and Charleroi meet (five straight games heading into this one) and that held true again on Thursday. The Highlanders' pitcher stepped up to hand the Cougars a 15-0 shutout. The Highlanders might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five matches by ten runs or more this season.

Makenna Crothers made a big impact no matter where she played. She didn't allow a single earned run while striking out six over four innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in five consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-4 with four RBI. Those four RBI gave her a new career-high.

Nicole Klages

Runs (Career)

04/17/25 @ Charleroi	4
03/31/25 @ South Side	2
03/17/25 vs Bethlehem Center	2
04/15/24 @ Keystone Oaks	2
03/19/24 vs California	2

In other batting news, McGuffey got a massive performance out of Nicole Klages, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with four runs, two doubles, and one stolen base. Those four runs gave Klages a new career-high. Julianna Ward was another key player, going 3-for-4 with one home run, one stolen base, and two RBI.

McGuffey kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 19 hits. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post 11 or more hits.

McGuffey is on a roll lately: they've won six of their last eight games. That's provided a nice bump to their 7-4 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.9 runs over those games. As for Charleroi, their loss was their first in the conference, dropping their conference record down to 2-1 and their overall record down to 4-5.

Charleroi's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Monday. McGuffey has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Charleroi, though, as they've been averaging only 4 strikeouts. Will McGuffey keep running through batters, or will the Cougars buck the trend? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.