The Palisade Bulldogs will challenge the Montrose Red Hawks at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
On Friday, Palisade got the win against Grand Junction Central by a conclusive 11-1. The result was nothing new for the Bulldogs, who have now won six games by six runs or more so far this season.
Garrett Draper
| 03/19/25 @ Pueblo East | 4 |
| 04/01/25 @ Coal Ridge | 2 |
| 03/25/25 vs Delta | 2 |
| 03/08/25 vs Palmer Ridge | 2 |
| 04/11/25 @ Fruita Monument | 1 |
| + 1 more games |
Garrett Draper looked comfortable as he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits over four innings pitched. He also tossed no walks, which is notable because Palisade is 5-2 when he allows at most two walks, but 4-5 otherwise.
At the plate, Palisade got a massive performance out of Kian Kinslow, who went 2-for-3 with one home run and four RBI. That's the most RBI Kinslow has posted since back in May of 2024. Caleb Blanck was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI, one stolen base, and one run.
Palisade always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .643. They are 5-1 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, Montrose suffered their closest loss since March 16, 2024 on Tuesday. They fell just short of Bayfield by a score of 13-11.
Jack Pankey was huge no matter where he played even without the win. He tossed four innings while giving up just one earned (and four unearned) runs off six hits. That's the fewest earned runs he has allowed since back in March. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, one run, and one double. He also put up an RBI, which was his first of the season.
In other batting news, Joey Benitez made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and went 3-for-4 with three doubles, two runs, and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Ryan Balleck, who went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and two runs.
The win made it two in a row for Palisade and bumps their season record up to 9-7. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.5 runs over those games. As for Montrose, they have been struggling recently as they've lost seven of their last eight matchups. That's put a noticeable dent in their 4-11 record this season.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Tuesday as neither team is afraid to steal. Palisade has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.6 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Montrose struggles in that department as they've been averaging 4 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
