Gilroy Little League Softball All-Stars avenge 2005 loss to
Southern California, improve to 2-0 in pool play
Staff Reports
This time, the Gilroy Little League Softball All-Stars weren’t caught off-guard.
Avenging last year’s West Regional-opener loss to Southern California – Gilroy’s only loss of the tournament – the Garlic All-Stars beat La Crescenta Little League 6-0 to improve to 2-0 in Southwest pool play Tuesday afternoon in Vancouver, Wash.
With games against Arizona and Nevada remaining, Gilroy is tied for first in the Southwest pool with undefeated Arizona. The two teams clash Thursday at 3:30pm in a game that could determine who will receive the higher seed in the playoffs.
In addition to Gilroy, Arizona has Montana left to face in pool play. The top two teams in each of the two pools advance to the championship playoffs.
Gilroy started off the scoring in the second inning when catcher Melanie Morelos led off with a double and later scored on a wild pitch to put the Garlic Girls on top 1-0.
In the fourth inning, Gilroy broke the game open with five runs. Morelos once again led the inning off with a double. Stephanie Rodriquez followed with a walk. Amanda Poso brought both girls home with a two-run double to extend the lead to 3-0 for Gilroy. Next, Sarina Sandoval reached on an error, allowing Poso to score to make the score 4-0. Casey Lester then walked, and Michelle Sosa followed with a single up the middle that plated two more runs and gave Gilroy the 6-0 lead to end the inning.
Gilroy rode the pitching of Sam Parraz, who struck out seven and gave up three hits in six innings of work. Gilroy’s defense also played well, committing no errors.
Southern California mounted its only rally of the game in the fourth when the team started off the frame with consecutive hits, followed by a fielder’s choice to put runners on first and second with one out. But Sosa provided the a pivotal defensive highlight by snaring a line drive and flipping the ball to Rodriguez at second to double a Southern California runner off the base for a double play that ended the inning and killed Southern California’s only threat of the game.
Leading the offense for Gilroy were Morelos (3-for-3, 2 doubles) and Sosa (2-for-3). Poso (double) and Lester each had a hit as well.
