Encinal is 1-7 against Castro Valley since April of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Jets will venture away from home to face off against the Trojans at 4:00 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Encinal gave up the first runs on Wednesday, but they didn't let that get them down. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Analy, sneaking past 8-7. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Jets have posted since March 19th.
Cameron Tran made a big impact no matter where she played. She tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Tran was also big at the plate, going 1-for-4 with two runs and one stolen base.
In other batting news, Jazzy Alcantar was excellent, going 1-for-3 with one home run. Isabella Hernandez was another key player, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and one run.
Meanwhile, Castro Valley came tearing into last Wednesday's matchup with four straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 12.8 runs), and they left with even more momentum. Their pitcher stepped up to hand the Pirates an 11-0 shutout. The Trojans' pitching crew has been rock solid lately; the team hasn't given up a run in their last three contests.
Like Encinal, Castro Valley also got a great game from a two-way player: Alanys Robertson. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out eight over six innings pitched. Robertson has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in seven consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 1-for-4 with one home run and three RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Zaylee Gutierrez, who went 2-for-3 with one home run and three RBI. Alicya Robertson also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.
Castro Valley lost a few balls and finished the game with three home runs. That's the most home runs they've posted since back in February of 2024.
Castro Valley's victory was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 13-3. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.8 runs over those games. As for Encinal, their record is now 7-12.
Encinal suffered a grim 10-0 defeat to Castro Valley in their previous matchup back in March. Can the Jets avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
