GILROY, CA — Riding a six-game losing streak with a full week to think about it the Palma baseball team came into Friday afternoon’s Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division contest against Christopher looking to get back to its winning ways.
The Chieftains succeeded.
Tanner Okamura hit an inside the park grand slam and pitcher Cameron Crone threw a two-hit shutout as Palma blanked host Christopher 10-0 in a five inning mercy rule game.
“I’m just grateful that we are playing out in Gilroy the wind was blowing out everywhere,” said Okamura of his grand slam. “That could’ve just been a pop up at Palma but thanks to the wind and maybe my lefty spin it just traveled a litter further than I thought it would.”
Okamura’s slam in the first was all Crone needed as the senior was on his game.
Crone didn’t allow a runner past third base while striking out two and walking two for Palma which picked up its first win since April 2 against Stevenson.
“We’ve been having intrasquad games all week and I think that helped us mentally prepare, see some live pitching and get our heads around,” said Crone who improved to 4-0 on the mound this season. “We really needed this win because our league has been going pretty crazy so it was big for us. It’s really competitive this year.”
Palma (11-11, 6-7) now pulls back into the middle of the MBL-Gabilan pack after upending Christopher (11-10, 7-6) which came into the contest in sole possession of second place and winners of four straight.
Unlike the Chieftains, who came in with a full week to get ready for the Cougars, Christopher was playing its third game of the week after sweeping its two games against Monterey.
Anthonee Bartholic and Makaio Duyao each had a single for Christopher which visits Monte Vista Christian on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
After scoring four in the first inning the Chieftains scored four more in the third following RBI doubles by Anthony DeSantis, Mike Gutierrez and a two RBI single by Andrew Mierz.
DesSantis went 2-for-3 for Palma with a double, two RBI and two runs scored, while Brad Carraciolli and Gutierrez went 1-for-3 with a double and RBI.
Palma will visit Gilroy on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
“We all came together as a team together today,” said DeSantis. “We had a solid defense and hit the ball well. It feels great to end the streak and I’m pumped. I’m hoping we can win out the rest of the season.”
In the MBL-Gabilan anything is possible this year.
On Thursday last place Gilroy upset first-place Salinas 10-4, leaving the entire league optimistic that this league really is up for grabs.
“The way the league is this year even Gilroy has a shot and they are 3-9 this year,” said Palma manager Johnny Ramirez. “This league’s parity is so crazy; everyday the board changes (so) you don’t know whose going to be second, third, fourth or fifth. It's that crazy."
