Softball improves to 10-9 with win over Danville, takes Big 12 lead

Inkspot Staff

May 2, 2025

Senior leaders Ava Prevo (second from left), McKenna Baughman (third from left) and Tatum Yokley (far right) have anchored Community’s turnaround this season—Prevo in the circle, Baughman with her power at the plate, and Yokley leading the Iron in RBIs and extra-base hits. Photo Courtesty of: Tatum Yokley

For the first time this season, Community softball holds a winning record.

The Ironmen climbed above .500 with a 9-1 road win over Danville on Thursday, improving to 10-9 overall and 5-0 in Big Twelve play—good for first place in the conference.

In the conference race, Champaign Central sits close behind at 4-0 and 14-1 overall. The two teams won’t meet until a potential title-deciding doubleheader on May 15.

Senior Tatum Yokley powered the Ironmen offense, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Her third-inning single opened the scoring, and the next batter, McKenna Baughman, followed with a first-pitch home run to center to make it 3-0—her team-leading fourth of the season.

Yokley, who leads Community with 20 RBIs, is batting .439 on the year—second only to junior Hayley Michels, who sports a .469 average and 30 hits.

The Iron added insurance runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth—including a four-run sixth that broke the game open. Michels and sophomore Bailey Engel each added two hits and an RBI.

The Iron finished with 10 hits and committed just one error.

Ava Prevo earned the win, tossing a complete game. The senior allowed one earned run on six hits, struck out four and walked none. She improved to 7-7 on the season with a 2.76 ERA over 15 appearances.

Danville managed to avoid the shutout with a run in the seventh before dropping to 9-9 on the season.

Community looks to stay perfect in conference play when they host Normal West (7-11) on Tuesday, May 6.

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