Softball Game Preview: Exeter Monarchs vs. Avenal Buccaneers

The Exeter Monarchs will head out on the road to face off against the Avenal Buccaneers at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Exeter is looking for their season's first win.

Exeter fell victim to El Diamante and their airtight pitching crew last Tuesday. They lost 10-0 to the Miners. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest defeat the Monarchs have suffered since April 29, 2025.

Exeter saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Madi Avalar, who went 1-for-2 with one double.

Meanwhile, Avenal got the win against Orosi on Tuesday by a conclusive 17-1. The victory continues a trend for the Buccaneers in their matchups with the Cardinals: they've now won four in a row.

Emma Morales made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit over five innings pitched. Morales was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Khloe Nieto, who went 2-for-3 with three runs, one triple, and one stolen base. Another player making a difference was Layla Lopez, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with three runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.

Avenal's first win this season bumped their record up to 1-2. As for Exeter, their loss dropped their record down to 0-4.

Exeter was able to grind out a solid victory over Avenal in their previous matchup back in April of 2025, winning 13-9. Will the Monarchs repeat their success, or do the Buccaneers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.