Perry Central softball rolls past Paoli 14-4, extends home winning streak

Perry Central’s offense kept its home field working for it Monday, scoring 14 runs in a 14-4 win over Paoli and pushing the Commodores to 12-4 overall. The result stretched Perry Central’s home winning streak to six and gave the program another decisive victory as the season moved deeper into May.

The margin mattered as much as the total. MaxPreps said Perry Central had already won 10 games by six runs or more this season, and the Paoli game fit that pattern of a team that is not just winning, but winning with breathing room. That kind of cushion lets a lineup stay aggressive and gives the defense less pressure when the game starts to open up.

Paoli fell to 2-10 with the loss and extended an ugly run against the Commodores. The Rams have now lost eight straight meetings with Perry Central, and a preview a day earlier had already shown how lopsided the matchup had become, with Perry Central holding an 8-1 edge over Paoli since April 2016.

That head-to-head control matters now because the postseason calendar is already in view. The Indiana High School Athletic Association announced its 2026 softball pairings Sunday, and sectional play is set for May 25-30. Perry Central landed in the Class 2A sectional at Forest Park, where the bracket also includes Mater Dei, South Spencer, Tecumseh, Tell City, Forest Park and Pike Central.

For Perry Central High School in Leopold, the run of results has turned 18677 Old State Road 37 into a difficult place for visitors. The Commodores were on a five-game home streak before the Paoli game and left with six straight at home, a record that reflects more than one strong night. It points to a team that has found a rhythm at the right time, with offense setting the tone and home games becoming a real advantage heading toward sectional play.