Shafter is on a nine-game streak of home wins, while South is on a five-game streak of away wins: one of those streaks is about to end. The Generals will host the Spartans at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Shafter is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.4 runs per game this season.
Shafter is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Wednesday. They came out on top against Sunnyside by a score of 8-3.
Andy Gomez was a major factor no matter where he played. On the mound, he tossed 5.2 innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off seven hits. Gomez was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Christopher Espinoza, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run. That's the most hits he has posted since back in March. Lukas Pena was another key player, going 1-for-4 with three RBI, one run, and one double.
Meanwhile, South earned a 7-4 win over California City on Wednesday. The Spartans haven't had any issues with the Ravens recently, as the game was their third consecutive victory against them.
Like Shafter, South also got a great game from a two-way player: Josh Encinas. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out 12 over six innings pitched. Encinas has been consistent recently: he hasn't tossed less than eight strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-4 with two runs and one triple.
In other batting news, Felipe Retano was excellent, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with three stolen bases.
Shafter is on a roll lately: they've won 15 of their last 16 matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 18-4 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.8 runs on average over those games. As for South, their victory bumped their record up to 21-8.
Friday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Shafter has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .526. However, it's not like South struggles in that department as they've averaged .493. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Shafter couldn't quite finish off South when the teams last played back in March of 2024 and fell 7-5. Can the Generals avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
