The Paly baseball team (11-13) defeated Monta Vista High School, 4-1, on Friday, April 24, extending its winning streak to three games.

Junior Scott Witte pitched a complete game and gave up only one run and four hits, while striking out six. Junior Joc Pederson led Paly offensively, finishing 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, and a run batted in (RBI).

“This was a great game for us,” coach Donny Kadokawa said. “Our hitters got on base with extra base hits and Scott [Witte] was amazing.”

After a disappointing 0-7 start in the preseason and the recent loss of senior starting pitcher Steven Burke, many thought Paly would be down and out of the division. However, the Vikings have turned it around, winning nine of their last ten games to have a league record of 8-4, putting them at third in the division.

Palo Alto got off to a strong start in the second inning when sophomore T.J. Braff led off with a triple. Junior Wade Hauser then singled Braff home, advanced to second on a passed ball, and made it to third on a missed pick-off attempt. Senior Colin Byrne hit a sacrifice fly to right-center field to make the score 2-0, Paly.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Vikings extended their lead after senior Will Holder hit a opposite field double. Pederson then hit a booming triple to right-center field to make the score 3-0 Paly. Witte also aided the Vikings by only allowing one runner to reach base in the first three innings, while striking out five.

In the top of the sixth inning, with Paly up 3-1, Monta Vista attempted to rally. They put runners on first and second with one out, but Witte remained in control and got the next Monta Vista player to ground into a double play, ending the inning.

“It’s great to see us winning after the start we had.” Kadokawa said. “[Earlier] we were kind of psyched out and getting used to a new system, but now our talent is showing.”

Paly’s next game is against Homestead High School on April 29 at 3:30 p.m, at home.