Central Valley is 1-9 against University Prep since April of 2019 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Falcons will head out on the road to challenge the Panthers at 4:30 p.m. Central Valley is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.7 runs per game this season.
Central Valley's last matchup with Lassen could've gone either way, but unfortunately the same can't be said for the pair's contest on Tuesday. The Falcons came up short against the Grizzlies, falling 10-4.
Joleen Short
| 04/29/25 vs Lassen | 7 |
| 04/22/25 @ Yreka | 8 |
| 04/11/25 @ Anderson | 17 |
| 04/08/25 vs University Prep | 5 |
| 04/04/25 @ West Valley | 7 |
| 04/02/25 vs Mt. Shasta | 14 |
Joleen Short spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and eight unearned) runs on 12 hits and racked up seven Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in six consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Hazel Chavez was cooking despite her team's loss, getting on base in all three of her plate appearances with one stolen base and one run.
The home team had come away the winner the last four times University Prep and West Valley had met, but sadly for the fans who attended this one that wasn't the case. The Panthers blew past the Eagles 15-5 on Tuesday. The Panthers might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won eight matches by eight runs or more this season.
Hailey Pebley made a splash while hitting and pitching. She pitched seven innings while giving up four earned (and one unearned) runs off nine hits. Pebley was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one double and one RBI.
In other batting news, University Prep let Aubrey Caudell and Leigha Wood run wild. Caudell fired off two home runs, six RBI, and four runs while going 5-for-5, while Wood went a perfect 4-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. Those four hits gave Wood a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Riley Villano, who went 1-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double.
University Prep was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .444. They are a perfect 8-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
University Prep now has a winning record of 11-10-2. As for Central Valley, their defeat dropped their record down to 11-8.
University Prep's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Friday. Central Valley has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.5 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for University Prep, though, as they've been averaging only 3.3 strikeouts. Will Central Valley keep running through batters, or will the Panthers buck the trend?
Central Valley suffered a grim 13-3 defeat to University Prep when the teams last played back in April. Can the Falcons avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
