KENOSHA, Wis. — Parkside softball is set for a busy stretch this week, playing six games in four days beginning with a non-conference road doubleheader at Quincy before opening both its home schedule and GLIAC play over the weekend at Case Softball Complex.

The Rangers begin the week Thursday, March 19, in Quincy, Illinois, taking on the Quincy Hawks at the Mart Heinen Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for noon CT with game two to follow at 2 p.m. CT. Parkside then returns to Kenosha for its home opener on Saturday, March 21, hosting Grand Valley State in a GLIAC doubleheader at noon CT and 2 p.m. CT. The Rangers close out the stretch Sunday, March 22, welcoming Purdue Northwest to Case Softball Complex for another conference twinbill scheduled for noon CT and 2 p.m. CT.

ABOUT THE RANGERS:
Parkside enters the week 7-13 overall after splitting two road doubleheaders in Ohio over the weekend. The Rangers went 2-2 across the four games, splitting with Tiffin on Saturday and Findlay on Sunday.

Mia Johnson turned in another monster performance and continues to be the engine of the Parkside offense. Johnson went 6-for-10 across the four games with seven walks and five RBI. She homered twice on day two of the trip at Findlay and finished the weekend with four extra-base hits, a .765 on-base percentage and a 1.400 slugging percentage.

Through 20 games this season, Johnson leads the Rangers in nearly every major offensive category, batting .554 with 31 hits, 11 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 22 RBI, 24 runs scored and 24 walks. Her 1.214 slugging percentage and .688 on-base percentage have helped make her one of the most dangerous hitters in the region early this spring.

Parkside has also received strong production throughout the lineup behind Johnson. Isabel Aranda is batting .346 with 18 hits, four doubles, one home run and nine RBI. Peyton Klikno is hitting .345 and has scored eight runs in just 12 games. Ava Swain has added 12 RBI, 12 walks and two home runs, while Reese Valha has chipped in six doubles and eight RBI. CICI Di Silvio has also been an important run producer with seven doubles, one home run and 15 RBI. As a team, the Rangers are batting .279 with 36 doubles, 16 home runs and 92 RBI through 20 games.

In the circle, Holly Lowenberg has been Parkside's steadiest option, going 4-3 with a 3.06 ERA in 50.1 innings while tossing five complete games. Casey Jo Vermett has provided strikeout ability with a team-high 44 punchouts in 36.1 innings and has picked up three wins. As a staff, the Rangers carry a 4.25 ERA with 99 strikeouts in 128.1 innings.

This week also marks a major shift in the season for Parkside. After Thursday's final non-conference road doubleheader, the Rangers officially open GLIAC play at home over the weekend. Last season, Parkside finished 14-13 in conference play, earned the No. 4 seed in the GLIAC Tournament and made its second conference tournament championship appearance in three years. The Rangers were picked to finish fourth in the league again this spring.

SCOUTING QUINCY:
Quincy enters Thursday's matchup 4-20 overall and 1-5 at home. The Hawks were picked to finish last in the GLVC preseason poll and are led by fourth-year head coach Cathy Monroe.

The Hawks are coming off a difficult weekend at home, where they were swept in doubleheaders by Illinois Springfield on Saturday and No. 11 Indianapolis on Sunday.

Offensively, Makala Koozer has been Quincy's top table-setter, batting .382 with 29 hits, 17 runs scored and a .472 on-base percentage. Casey Fronheiser is hitting .344 with 22 hits, while Kaidence Dumas has provided the biggest power numbers in the lineup with five doubles, five home runs and 20 RBI. Kenzie Moss has also added five doubles, four home runs and 19 RBI, giving Quincy multiple middle-of-the-order bats capable of producing damage.

The Hawks have battled in the circle. Hailey Platt has been Quincy's most effective arm with a 4.05 ERA in 36.1 innings, while Haley Martin has logged a team-high 51.1 innings and made 10 starts. As a staff, Quincy owns a 7.02 ERA and opponents are batting .349 against the Hawks.

This will mark the 53rd and 54th all-time meetings between Parkside and Quincy, with the series currently tied 26-26. The Rangers have had the upper hand in recent matchups, winning six of the last 10 meetings and the two most recent contests earlier this season on Feb. 14, 2025, when Parkside swept the Hawks 8-0 and 6-0 at a neutral-site tournament in Peoria, Illinois. Historically, Parkside has also been strong in road matchups with Quincy, holding a 12-10 record away from home in the series. The Rangers will look to extend their current two-game win streak against the Hawks on Thursday.

SCOUTING GRAND VALLEY STATE:
Grand Valley State enters the weekend 9-11 overall after going 4-6 during its spring trip to Bartow, Florida, most recently defeating Lake Erie 11-4 on March 13.

The Lakers were picked second in the GLIAC preseason poll after finishing second in the conference standings last season at 17-11. Grand Valley State is led by 12th-year head coach Dana Callihan, a six-time GLIAC Coach of the Year.

The Lakers are batting .306 as a team and feature one of the more balanced lineups in the conference. Camryn Hall leads the offense with a .452 batting average and 28 hits in 19 games. Elizabeth Wesoloski is batting .373 with 22 hits, Faith Edwards is hitting .328 with five doubles and nine RBI, and Grace Usher is batting .304 while starting all 20 games. Kylee Hoebeke has also driven in eight runs, and Madelynn Pope has made an early impact in limited action, hitting .450 in five games.

In the circle, Grand Valley State again looks strong. Allison Wright owns a 1.22 ERA in 23 innings, Nevaeh Ingram has posted a 1.84 ERA in 26.2 innings, and Karli Dorr has recorded a 2.20 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 35 innings. As a staff, the Lakers carry a 2.59 ERA and have held opponents to a .257 batting average.

Saturday's doubleheader will mark the 41st and 42nd all-time meetings between Parkside and Grand Valley State, with the Lakers leading the all-time series 26-14. Saturday's matchup also carries some added intrigue after Parkside knocked Grand Valley State out of the GLIAC Tournament last season on May 3. Parkside has also had competitive results at Case Softball Complex, where the Rangers are 5-6 all-time at home against Grand Valley State, including a pair of victories last year.

SCOUTING PURDUE NORTHWEST:
Purdue Northwest enters the week 11-7 overall and will play a doubleheader against Roosevelt in Rosemont on Saturday before traveling to Kenosha for Sunday's conference matchup. The Pride are 1-1 in true road games so far and are led by interim head coach Claire Schapker.

Despite being picked last in the GLIAC preseason poll after finishing 9-18 in conference play last season, Purdue Northwest has been one of the better offensive teams in the league early this year. The Pride are batting .338 as a team with 169 hits, 27 doubles, 13 triples and 88 RBI through 18 games.

Jessy Del Toro leads the team with a .442 batting average and a .520 on-base percentage. Gracie Jensen is hitting .429 with 13 RBI, while Kylie Dugan remains one of the most dynamic players in the conference at .407 with 24 hits and 12 stolen bases. Emma Fair and Amanda DeBoer have each driven in 14 runs, Kylie Madura is hitting .340, and Sylvia Mudis has added two home runs with a .731 slugging percentage in limited action. The Pride have also pressured opponents on the bases, stealing 34 bags in 42 attempts.

In the circle, Hailie Charmat leads the staff with a 2.14 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 32.2 innings. Jordyn Roop owns a 2.58 ERA, Chloe Tanner is 3-1 with a 2.96 ERA and one save, and Purdue Northwest as a staff holds a 3.47 ERA while limiting opponents to a .252 batting average.