Palisades is 0-5 against Myers Park since March of 2023 but things could change on Tuesday. The Palisades Pumas will face off against the Myers Park Mustangs at 6:45 p.m. Palisades knows how to get runs on the board -- the squad has finished with ten runs or more in their past four contests -- so hopefully Myers Park likes a good challenge.
Palisades took a loss when they played away from home on Thursday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Friday. They put the hurt on Berry with a sharp 11-1 victory. The win continues a trend for the Pumas in their matchups with the Cardinals: they've now won seven in a row.
Joel O'Hara tossed a big game, not allowing a single earned run while striking out eight over five innings pitched.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Gabe Diaz, who scored two runs while going 2-for-3. He also hit two doubles, marking his first of the season. Max Wearing was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-2.
Palisades hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Berry struck out eight times.
Meanwhile, Myers Park fought the good fight in their extra-innings match against Richmond on Saturday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Raiders by a score of 6-5. The Mustangs' defeat signaled the end of their three-game winning streak.
Myers Park also got a good showing from Henry Bauer, who tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Bauer has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one walk any time he's pitched this season.
At the plate, William Jordak made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and scored a run while going 1-for-4. Another player making a difference was Sam Bundon, who went 1-for-2 with two RBI.
Palisades' record now sits at 4-2. As for Myers Park, their loss dropped their record down to 5-2.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Tuesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Palisades has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.7 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Myers Park struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.9 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Palisades suffered a grim 6-0 defeat to Myers Park in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can Palisades avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
