The Shafter Generals will take on the Independence Falcons in a tournament on Friday. Both teams are coming into the contest red-hot, with Shafter sitting on three straight wins and Independence on four.
If Shafter beats Independence with ten runs on Friday, it's going to be the squad's new lucky number: they've won their past two matchups with that exact score. The Generals never let Kennedy get on the board and left with a 10-0 victory on Thursday. Fans of the Generals have seen this all before: every one of the games they've played this season has ended in a blowout of 6+ runs.
The team relied heavily on Neveah Enriquez, who got on base in all three of her plate appearances with two stolen bases, one run, and one RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Jaylene Mancilla, who went 1-for-2 with two RBI and one run.
Meanwhile, Independence got the win against Varsity Opponent on Thursday by a conclusive 11-3. The Falcons are also no stranger to big wins: their blowout was the fourth game they've won by 6+ runs this season.
Maylea Lutu was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April of 2025. Another player making a difference was Ayda Caudillo, who went 1-for-2 with three runs, one double, and one RBI.
Independence hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They are 3-1 when they post two or more strikeouts.
Independence now has a winning record of 4-3-1. As for Shafter, their record is now 3-0.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Shafter hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .359. However, it's not like Independence struggles in that department as they've averaged .370. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Shafter might still be hurting after the 7-1 loss they got from Independence when the teams last played back in February of 2025. Can the Generals avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.