Banquet helps Shafter Commanders

The Shafter Commanders Youth Football teams held their annual Banquet and Auction recently, raising funds for the upcoming football season.

A crowd turned out to the Shafter Veterans Hall on Saturday to be served by Shafter Commander football players and cheerleaders, and it was a good time all who attended, according to Flortino Valdiva, the director of the Commanders.

To begin the evening, they were treated to a barbecue dinner with all the trimmings. There were several gift baskets scattered on the side tables, letting the attendees to bid on them until the end of the night, when the winning bidders were announced. There were several with gift cards, food and sports goodies. Martha Alvarado came away with a Shafter High Generals corn hole game and a pack of assorted gift cards.

There was also a number of jerseys and helmets signed by the players, including a helmet that was signed by Jerry Rice and Joe Montana. A lot of high-profile items were donated, including a helmet from the Pittsburgh Steelers, an Oakland Raiders jersey, and a jersey signed by one of the brightest stars in the NFL, Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes.

The Shafter Commanders belong to the Golden Empire Football League and have four teams starting with the Freshmen, up to the Varsity.

Shafter will be trying to continue their dominant season from last year that saw the Freshmen team going undefeated up until the championship game. "We are trying to keep that chemistry, so we moved the coaches that were the Freshmen coaches last year up to the Sophomore level, so the group will have that unity that served them so well last year. The players are taught how to tackle properly, learn plays and are taught sportsmanship, getting them ready to become Generals when they reach Shafter High.

Valdiva said that there are over 160 kids in the program this year.

Games will begin in August and practices start soon. Games are on a rotational basis.