The Kerman Lions will square off against the Selma Bears at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Kerman 3.5, Selma 2.8) so any runs scored will be well earned.
On Tuesday, Kerman sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 3-2 win over Hanford West. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Lions.
Roxy Alvarez made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out six over seven innings pitched. Alvarez was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with one triple and one RBI.
Alvarez wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Jaymee Hick, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base and one RBI.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Selma, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Friday. They never let Immanuel get on the board and left with a 10-0 victory on Tuesday. Considering the Bears have won six contests by more than six runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Like Kerman, Selma also got a great game from a two-way player: Gabriela Pena. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits over six innings pitched. Pena has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in ten consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with two RBI.
In other batting news, Moriah Preciado was excellent, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs and one stolen base. That's the most hits she has posted since back in March of 2025. Alia Tamez was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
Selma kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in four consecutive matchups.
Selma's win bumped their record up to 16-4. As for Kerman, their victory bumped their record up to 12-5-1.
Selma's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Friday. Kerman has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.8 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Selma, though, as they've been averaging only 3.3 strikeouts. Will Kerman keep running through batters, or will the Bears buck the trend?
Kerman skirted past Selma 3-1 in their previous meeting back in May of 2025. Do the Lions have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Bears turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
