By Brian ‘Woodie’ Wood
The rains came as expected on Friday (April 6). The San Francisco Giants postponed their game against the Dodgers at 1pm, six hours prior to game time. The Junior Varsity Game between Pacific Grove and Palma was postponed two days prior (and played this past Wednesday, April 4). However, the varsity match between host Pacific Grove High School and the visiting Palma Chieftains went as scheduled on at a wet and soggy Don Curley Field. Despite a persistent rain, the game was played to completion with the 10-5 victory going to the Chieftains. Click to read more and see photos
Palma got off to an early lead with two runs in the first. PG answered back with one run. Dylan Graham was hit by a pitch and eventually advanced to third base where he was sent home by Daniel Rosas on a double to the deepest part of the park over the center fielder’s head. The Breakers loaded the bases on walks to Kevahn Ebron and Colby Burnell but left them stranded.
The Chieftains added a run in the second for a 3-1 lead. After a 1-2-3 inning for new PG pitcher Ebron, PG pulled within one in the third. Hunter Hanes reached via an error, advanced to second on a walk to Rosas, stole third and came home on an errant throw by the Palma catcher.
Three hits, three walks, and three PG errors led to five runs for Palma in the fourth and they added another two in the fifth for a 10-2 lead. PG was not done, however, as they loaded the bases with a single to center by Hanes sandwiched between walks to Graham and Ebron. Up stepped pinch hitter Nathan Wood who knocked the first pitch down the left filed line for a two-run single. After Burnell drew his third walk of the game, designated hitter River Watts hit a long fly ball to deep left field to move all three runners up one base including Ebron for the Breakers third run of the inning. PG was unable to do any more damage, but the score now stood at 10-5.
PG brought in two pitchers making their first appearance for the Varsity squad this season, Jackson Destefano and Josh Mares combined for two innings of shutout ball allowing just a walk and a single. Unfortunately PG could only muster one base runner in the final two innings (single by Trevor Heyn) leaving the final score at 10-5 in favor of Palma (8-6). Of note, sophomores Sean Powell and Jordan Booker made their Varsity debuts during the game (coming in to play second base and left field).
PG (4-8) travels to Scotts Valley (2-5) on Tuesday (April 10) while PG JV (5-5) hosts their Scotts Valley counterpart. Both games are at 4pm.
photos
9138-Jordan Booker, PGHS, first career Varsity at bat, PG vs Palma April 6, 2018 at PGHS
9133-Nathan Wood, PGHS, at bat, PG vs Palma April 6, 2018 at PGHS
9127-Ryan Destefano, PGHS pitching, Sean Powell, PGHS in background (second baseman), PG vs Palma April 6, 2018 at PGHS
9125-Ryan Destefano, PGHS pitching, Sean Powell, PGHS in background (second baseman), PG vs Palma April 6, 2018 at PGHS
9124-Nathan Wood (catcher), Kevahn Ebron (first baseman), PGHS, PG vs Palma April 6, 2018 at PGHS
9121-Josh Mares (pitcher), in background-Trevor Heyn (shortstop), Sean Powell (second baseman), Hunter Hanes (center fielder), PG vs Palma April 6, 2018 at PGHS
9119-Colby Burnell (batter), Nathan Wood (on first base), PGHS, PG vs Palma April 6, 2018 at PGHS
9116-Hunter Hanes (batter), PGHS, PG vs Palma April 6, 2018 at PGHS
