After their loss on opening day, the Inland Valley Legends traveled out to Palm Springs for a two-game series against the reigning champion Palm Springs Power.
The Power have been dominant over the last few years, hardly losing any games in the CPCL. Last season, the Power held a 51-game winning streak in non-conference and CPCL play, before the Bucs finally snapped it.
The Legends, who have long struggled against the Power, did put up some good fights towards the end of the 2024 season and looked to turn the tide against the dominant Power in 2025.
For the Power, this series would mark their first two games of the 2025 CPCL campaign. Coming into Friday, the Power were already 4-0 against non-conference opponents.
The Legends were gifted an early lead by Power pitching, drawing a bases-loaded walk to take an early 1-0 lead in the 1st inning.
Power catcher Bryant O’Neil backed up his pitcher by hitting a double in the bottom of the inning to give the Power a 2-1 lead.
The Legends didn’t back down, though, in the top of the 2nd, they loaded the bases for a second time. Andrew Alva capitalized on the opportunity by hitting a single to left to bring in two runs and regain the lead.
The Legends scored for a third consecutive inning on a fielder’s choice in the 3rd to give them a 4-2 lead.
O’Neil dealt a big blow to the Legends for a second time, hitting a single past the shortstop to score two runs and tie the contest.
The Legends loaded the bases for a third time in the fifth inning and again scored a run due to a walk. The Power were able to end the inning on a strikeout to the next batter to limit the damage.
Power third baseman Michael Gonsalez tied the game on a single into right in the bottom of the fifth.
In the 6th, the Power would take and widen their lead to 8-5 after a triple, single, double, and another single.
The Power’s final three pitchers would go on to shut the Legends out for the final four innings of the game and the score of 8-5 would hold to be the final.
Inland Valley Baseball Association 