Mustang spikers beat Alisal; will play for TCAL crown, bid to
CCS on Senior Night
Gilroy – The Gilroy boys’ volleyball beat Alisal at home Tuesday in three straight sets, 25-16, 25-17, 25-17.
The first-place Mustangs needed the win over the Trojans to keep their hopes alive for a Tri-County Athletic League title and a shot at the Central Coast Section playoffs. But they also needed Monterey to defeat San Benito, the league’s other first-place team and the only squad to have beaten Gilroy in league play this season. Fortunately for the Mustangs, the Toreadors also got the job done in Hollister on Tuesday night, defeating the ‘Balers in four games, 28-26, 15-25, 25-23, 25-20.
Against Alisal, senior outside hitter Vinny DeLorenzo put down 15 kills, had seven assists and served six aces. Senior setter Gene Losongco had 16 assists and five kills. Senior middle hitter Ryan Chisolm added four aces.
DeLorenzo and Losongco shared setting duties in the first game.
“We ran a 6-2 with double setters,” said Gilroy head coach Craig Martin. “We were trying something new.”
Tuesday’s results mean a TCAL title and a CCS bid will be on the line this Friday in Gilroy’s Senior Night matchup against Monterey. Both Gilroy (24-9) and Monterey (22-9) will head into the 6:15pm match with 13-2 records.
The JV Mustangs also came away victorious against Alisal Tuesday, winning 25-15, 25-22.
GHS Softball Shut out by Spirits
Salinas – This time, the Gilroy softball team didn’t leave Salinas with an upset.
The last time the Mustangs faced Notre Dame, they came away from the Steinbeck Classic with the first win over the Spirits in seven years. But history wouldn’t repeat itself Tuesday night.
Despite making solid contact with the ball, Gilroy’s hitters couldn’t drive in runs against the TCAL’s first-place undefeated team and fell to Notre Dame 3-0.
“I think it was a good game,” said Gilroy head coach Catherine Hallada. “The score may not say so, but we had baserunners on in almost every inning.”
The Spirits (22-3, 8-0 TCAL) loaded the bases and scored two of their runs in the third inning.
Hallada said her team had a lot of solid hits, but that Notre Dame made some great plays in the infield to keep the Mustangs off the bases.
“We had a lot of solid line drives,” the coach said. “We’re just falling short a few runs each game. If it’s a low-scoring game, it seems we don’t score any. If it’s a high-scoring game, we’re just a few runs under. We’re not getting those key hits to bring us ahead. Our hitting is kind of at the minimum.”
In an attempt to throw off the Spirits’ high-powered offense, Hallada used her entire pitching staff. Junior Patty Olvera started, then sophomore Brittany Balanesi came in. Notre Dame scored two of its runs off Olvera and one off Balanesi. The usual starter, senior Sarah Villar, finished off the game.
“Our strategy was to mix it up,” Hallada said. “I don’t think there were any dominant hits at any point in the game. There were a lot of base hits.”
Gilroy (12-8), which was in the TCAL’s third spot behind Notre Dame and San Benito going into the game, dropped to 4-5 in league and has three games remaining.
“Our goal right now is we have to win our last three games,” Hallada said. “We’re right in the middle. We’re all really competing for a spot in CCS. They have to step it up and just take it. I have no doubt they can do it.”
Gilroy travels to North Salinas Thursday and Salinas Tuesday before hosting Sobrato on Senior Day May 11.
Ana Patejdl is the sports editor of the Gilroy Dispatch. She can be reached at 842-1694 or by e-mail at ap******@gi************.com.
