Portola was not able to break out of their rough patch on Tuesday as the team picked up their third straight loss. They fell just short of the Chester Volcanoes by a score of 11-9. The result was an unpleasant reminder to Portola of the 12-2 defeat they experienced in the pair's previous head-to-head fixture back in April of 2023.
Johnny Stewart was cooking despite his team's loss, scoring three runs while going 2-for-3. Another player making a difference was Tanner Carr, who scored three runs while going 2-for-4.
On Chester's side, Jacob Dowling made a big impact no matter where he played. He struck out seven batters over six innings while giving up three earned (and two unearned) runs off seven hits. Dowling has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive pitching appearances. Dowling was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, Jax Holland was incredible, getting on base in four of his five plate appearances with a home run, two runs, and a stolen base. Chase Clark was another key contributor, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a double.
Portola's loss dropped their record down to 7-12. As for Chester, they are on a roll lately: they've won eight of their last nine games, which provided a massive bump to their 11-5 record this season.
Portola will be playing in front of their home fans against Redding Christian at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Redding Christian will roll in looking for their seventh straight win, something Portola surely won't give up without a fight. As for Chester, they will head out on the road to face off against Plumas Charter at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. Plumas Charter is coming into the contest with five straight victories at home, so Chester will have to stop a squad with plenty of momentum.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps