On the eve of Independence Day, the Rockland Boulders lost to the New Jersey Jackals by a score of 12-4.  Newly acquired Brett Palanski (0-1) took the loss after giving up four runs in the first inning.  New Jersey’s Isaac Pavlik (6-1) recorded the win with a four-run, five-inning performance.

The Jackals scored in the first inning starting with a leadoff home run by Johnny Bladel.  New Jersey loaded the bases and an RBI groundout by Brian Joynt gave his team their second run.  With the bases loaded again, back-to-back walks by Taylor Brennan and Yariel Vargas made the score 4-0.

Michael O’Neal came on to pitch for the Boulders but Rylan Sandoval homered in the second inning to add another run to the lead.  Rockland got on the board in the bottom of the second thanks to Jon Smith’s 10th home run of the season.

Rockland loaded the bases in the third inning for Joe Maloney who picked up his 56th RBI of the season by walking in Jared McDonald.  With the bases loaded, Mike Montville hit a fly ball deep to right field that allowed Dylan Tice to score on the sac fly.

In the fourth inning, Sandoval was hit by a pitch and Conrad Gregor walked for New Jersey.  Brian Burgamy doubled to drive in a run forcing a pitching change to Tommy Lawrence.  Back-to-back RBI singles by Joynt and Richard Stock added two more runs to the Jackals’ total.  The Boulders were able to pick off Joynt at second but Dvontrey Richardson reached on an error by Boulders shortstop Mike Fransoso. The big blow came on a three-run home run by Yariel Vargas to make the score 11-3.

The Boulders picked up a run in the fifth inning after Maloney walked and moved to second base on a wild pitch.  Montville’s single to left field drove him home. However, the Jackals got the run back in the seventh after Burgamy doubled to bring home Bladel.

The loss made the Boulders 32-11 while the Jackals are 27-16 and still four games behind Rockland for first place.  The middle game of the series will be tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. for a Fourth of July matchup.