Palatka is 0-10 against Santa Fe since March of 2017 but things could change on Thursday. The Panthers will square off against the Raiders at 6:00 p.m. Palatka will be looking to extend their current ten-game winning streak.
Palatka is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Tuesday. They put the hurt on Bradford with a sharp 17-1 win. The Panthers might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 11 matchups by six runs or more this season.
Paxton Sweat was a major factor no matter where he played. He pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one walk in three consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
Tanner Akers
| 04/15/25 vs Bradford | 5 |
| 04/08/25 @ St. Joseph Academy | 2 |
| 03/31/25 @ Hawthorne | 2 |
| 02/21/25 @ Matanzas | 1 |
| 02/18/25 vs Orange Park | 1 |
In other batting news, Jacob Gaskin and Tanner Akers did most of the damage at the plate: Gaskin scored three runs and stole two bases while going 2-for-2, while Akers went 3-for-4 with five RBI and two runs. Those five RBI gave Akers a new career-high. Ashton Huerta also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Meanwhile, Santa Fe came into Tuesday's game having lost five straight, but that streak is now in the rearview. Their pitchers stepped up to hand Eastside a 14-0 shutout on Tuesday. That 14 run margin sets a new team best for the Raiders this season.
Brody Rou looked comfortable as he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Jackson McDavid, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBI, one triple, and one stolen base. Santa Fe is 4-1 when McDavid posts three or more RBI, but 7-13 otherwise. The team also got some help courtesy of Nate Robertson, who scored three runs and stole two bases while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances.
Santa Fe always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .588. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their OBP total in three consecutive contests.
Palatka's record now sits at 17-8. As for Santa Fe, their record is now 11-14.
Palatka might still be hurting after the 12-2 loss they got from Santa Fe in their previous meeting back in March of 2024. Can the Panthers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
