Importance of season openers

 I suppose it depends on who you are.
 Soledad hadn't won a season opener in nine years until Friday. Yet, it has reached the playoffs the last two years.
 Alvarez won its season opener two years ago and went 1-19 over its next 20 games.
 King City has lost four straight season openers. Yet, the last time it made the playoffs, it dropped its season opener.
 Still, I think the Eagles win on Friday over Gonzales was big.
 It snapped an 11-game losing streak. It gave head coach David Bottom his first win at Alvarez. And now the players understand that the system works.
 Sure, it's just one game. Alvarez has been down this road before over the years.
 But this feels different. This is a good team. It's finally in the right league. And the Eagles have the right attitude.
 Greenfield has to have short term memory after failing to hold a 20 point lead in the second half, falling to St. Francis Catholic by one point.
 Speaking of the Sharks, who are playing an independent schedule this year, what happens if they go say 7-2 or 8-1?
 Can you get into the playoffs with an independent schedule and no league affiliate?