Hollister has won four straight games at home, while Palma has won four straight on the road, but those streaks won't matter much on Tuesday. The Haybalers will host the Chieftains at 4:00 p.m. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Hollister 3.4, Palma 2.9) so any runs scored will be well earned.
The home team had won the previous three meetings between Hollister and Bellarmine College Prep, and Hollister kept the tradition alive. The Haybalers came out on top in a nail-biter against the Bells on Friday, sneaking past 5-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Haybalers have posted since March 18th.
Jake Esparza
| 04/25/25 vs Bellarmine College Prep | 4 |
| 04/03/25 vs Carmel | 2 |
| 03/28/25 @ St. Francis | 2 |
| 03/22/25 @ Los Gatos | 2 |
| 04/17/25 vs Monterey | 1 |
The team relied heavily on Jake Esparza, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with one RBI. Those four hits gave him a new career-high. Donovan Price also deserves some recognition as he scored his first runs of the season.
Hollister always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .529. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Bellarmine College Prep only posted an OBP of .267.
For whatever reason, it's the away team that's had the advantage when Palma and Carmel meet (two straight games heading into this one) and that held true again on Saturday. The Chieftains were the clear victors by a 9-1 margin over the Padres. The result was nothing new for the Chieftains, who have now won 11 matches by seven runs or more so far this season.
Manny Dorantes made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out nine over six innings pitched. Dorantes was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.
In other batting news, Rocco Razzeca was incredible, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. He is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last four games he's played. Another player making a difference was Johnny Carnazzo, who went 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
Hollister is on a roll lately: they've won six of their last eight contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 13-7 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.0 runs on average over those games. As for Palma, their win bumped their record up to 16-5.
Tuesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Hollister hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .318. However, it's not like Palma struggles in that department as they've averaged .320. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Hollister was able to grind out a solid victory over Palma when the teams last played back in March, winning 8-5. Will the Haybalers repeat their success, or do the Chieftains have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
