ANAHEIM — The date on the calendar was March 26, but it felt a bit like December 25.

“It was like Christmas morning,” Bloomington baseball coach Carlos Contreras said about the Bruins getting the chance to play a game at Angel Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. “I watched as they walked in and their eyes were glowing. ... Playing in a big league stadium is the dream of every ball player.”

Bloomington knocked off Troy 7-2 in the 3:30 p.m. matinee. Banning then pulled out a dramatic 1-0 victory over Arroyo Valley in Wednesday’s nightcap.

The games were part of the Halo Classic, a program started by the Angels in 2017 that gives high school teams a “Major League Baseball experience.” The series started exclusively with Orange County teams but has expanded to include teams from the Inland Empire and L.A. County in recent seasons. The Angels have 11 open dates for Halo Classic games and host doubleheaders on those days, meaning 44 lucky teams get the opportunity each year.

“It’s great to give these young players this opportunity,” said Angels group sales manager Phil Gurule, who has been involved with the Halo Classic since its inception and now helms the program. “It seems to grow every year, and it has become so popular that we now have a wait list that continues to grow. We’re always looking to engage with new schools. So, if there’s anyone out there that would like to be part of this, we’d love to have that conversation.”

Moreno Valley plays Kennedy at Angel Stadium today at 3:30 p.m.

To participate in the Halo Classic, teams opt-in to a fundraiser and are required to sell a certain amount of ticket vouchers for upcoming Angels games.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for everyone involved, from the players to the coaches and for the families watching,” Banning coach Jake Knesel said about Wednesday evening’s game. “My players are a little goofy, so it’s hard to read their emotions at times. I don’t think the magnitude of it all really hit them until they stepped on the field. I could tell they were nervous and trying to look as cool as they can. It was just a fun atmosphere for everyone.”

Bloomington scored four runs during the top of the third inning to take command against Troy. Cesar Martinez reached base on an error and scored the first run of the game on a balk. Ricardo Sanchez brought home Robert Bliss on a groundout, and Isaac Garcia dropped down a picture-perfect squeeze bunt to score Benjamin Ibanez with the third run of the inning. Nathan Martin capped the outburst from the Bruins with a sacrifice fly that scored Garcia.

The bases were loaded with two outs in the top of the fourth, and Sanchez cleared them with a double down the left-field line to extend the lead to 7-0.

“This is my senior year, so what an experience,” said Sanchez, who also started the game on the mound for Bloomington. “I felt like one of the big guys out there today. I’m always coming to games and looking down at the field. Now I’m the one on the field. ... That double is something I’ll always remember.”

Nathan Sandoval was 1 of 7 Bloomington players to take the mound Wednesday. He delivered 1 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out a pair of batters.

“Everything was perfect,” Sandoval said. “These are the things that we dream of as children and young players. And we got a little taste of that today.”

The nightcap was a offensive struggle, as Arroyo Valley’s Jake Jimenez dueled against a plethora of Banning arms for the first six innings of the game.

Jimenez entered the contest with a 5-0 record and was his usual sharp self. He allowed two hits over six scoreless innings and struck out eight batters.

“There were some nerves early on, but I think I settled in a bit after the first inning and felt nice and relaxed,” Jimenez said. “It was amazing walking onto the field. I took a few seconds to take it all in. … It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing you can’t take for granted. I just wanted to go have fun with my friends.”

Arroyo Valley loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Marquis Stewart-Vaughn was summoned to the mound and promptly rolled an inning-ending double play. Second baseman Cody Gutierrez made a sliding stop up the middle, and shortstop Sebastian Osornio made the quick turn.

Trevor Eisman’s legs helped break the scoreless deadlock in the top of the seventh. Eiseman reached base on an error with one out and then swiped second base with one out and third base with two down. Eiseman later scored the game’s only run when a pickoff attempt got away from the defense.

“Everything about this night was beautiful,” Eisman said. “This was the best experience of my life and I wouldn’t trade anything for this. To be out here with my teammates, it was just perfect. … The whole game, it felt like it was a dream. Now that everything is done, I can stand here and see that it’s all real.”