Gavilan loses to Ohlone Renegades, 6-4, at home
By Leann Shea, Staff Writer
Gilroy – The Gavilan Rams baseball team opened up a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in their Coast South Conference game against the Ohlone Renegades at home on Thursday afternoon.
By the bottom of the seventh the Rams (7-10-1, 1-2 CSC) found themselves trailing 5-1 and proved they weren’t just going to roll over by chipping away at the Renegades four-run lead and pulling to within one in the bottom of the eighth before falling to the Renegades 6-4.
“In college baseball with the aluminum bats you’re always in the game,” said Gavilan coach Neal Andrade. “You’ve always got to stick with it.”
The Rams did stick with it and got their payoff in the seventh. Trailing 5-1, Miguel Perez got things started by leading off with a bloop single into centerfield. Gavilan’s next batter, Scott Mead was hit in the back by the first pitch, putting the Rams in good position. Nick Ramos’ advanced Perez to third with a deep fly into center.
After Mead got himself into scoring position by stealing second base, Efrain Ruiz entered the batter’s box with two outs and runners on third and second. Ruiz made the most of his opportunity and roped a base clearing double to the right field wall, 5-3. With Ruiz on second, Ohlone starter, Jeff Reekers got the Rams’ James Molina to pop out to right to end the threat.
However, the damage done by Gavilan in the inning chased Reekers from the game and Kevin Ricketts relieved him in the bottom of the eighth.
“Efrains’s double was a big hit. Two out knocks are always one of the bigger hits,” said Andrade.
The Rams inched closer in the bottom of the eighth after reliever Noel DeLatorre made quick work of the Renegades in the top of the inning.
Gavilan catcher, Seth Hudson battled Ricketts to a 3-2 count before dropping a single into left field to lead off. Mike Gatz followed suit and with a 3-2 count on him, slapped a single to right, advancing Hudson to third.
Wayman Gooch came on in relief for Ohlone after Ricketts fell behind the next Rams batter with two straight balls and got the strikeout for the first out of the inning. Mardy Sustaita brought Hudson home with a sacrifice fly to right to pull Gavilan within one, 5-4. Gooch got Mead to pop out for the final out.
The Renegades added an insurance run in the top of the ninth with a two-out single between third and shortstop off of DeLatorre.
Ramos gave the Rams hope in the bottom of the ninth with a leadoff double, but Ricketts shut the door and secured Ohlone’s victory with two strikeouts and a grounder to shortstop.
“We didn’t make the plays in the middle innings and had some unearned runs,” said Andrade. “One extra run can cost you.”
Gavilan starter Brian Rossi pitched well through six innings, allowing six hits, including a fifth inning homerun, but three Gavilan errors allowed the Renegades to build their lead.
“Brian Rossi pitched well. It could have been a lot worse,” said Andrade. “Noe came through and threw some strikes. It’s a matter of minimizing the big inning. We had a chance to win. We made a couple of mistakes, but could have comeback.”
Gavilan returns to action today as they face San Francisco City College at Skyline College at 2pm and play again on Saturday at West Valley at noon, weather permitting of course.
“We’re expecting a good well-played game against San Francisco,” said Andrade.
