Softball Game Preview: Pacheco Panthers vs. Los Banos Tigers

Pacheco is 1-9 against Los Banos since May of 2019 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Tuesday. A feisty cat fight will be fought as the Panthers take on the Tigers at 4:00 p.m. Neither Pacheco nor Los Banos posted many runs in their last games, so it might be the pitching crews that decide this one.

Pacheco saw some tournament action on Saturday. They came up short against Atwater, falling 17-2. The game marked the Panthers' lowest-scoring match so far this season.

Pacheco saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Isabella Chavez, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-2.

Meanwhile, Los Banos narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past Orestimba 2-1. The victory continues a trend for the Tigers in their matchups with the Warriors: they've now won five in a row.

Mya Arista spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on five hits. What's more, she posted two strikeouts, the most she's had since back in March of 2024.

Los Banos pushed their record up to 2-1 with the win, which was their fourth straight at home dating back to last season. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.5 runs over those games. As for Pacheco, their loss dropped their record down to 3-2.

Pacheco's speedy runners might be the difference in Tuesday's contest. Pacheco has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.8 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Los Banos, though, as they've been averaging only 1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Pacheco continue to outrun the ball?

Pacheco might still be hurting after the 14-1 defeat they got from Los Banos in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Can Pacheco avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.