Mustang baseball sweeps Salinas to start league season
GILROY – The Gilroy High baseball team has made its presence felt early in the Tri-County Athletic League season, sweeping a two-game set against Salinas last week to sit atop the standings with Live Oak and Palma.
The Mustangs (7-1 overall) traveled to Salinas on March 10 and trounced the host Cowboys, 10-4, and then returned home on March 12, squeeking out a 4-3 victory over Salinas.
In the opener, senior Ben Hemeon continued to swing a hot bat, going 4-for-5 with a triple, two doubles, and five ribbies. The Gilroy line-up made contact all game long with big efforts from sophomore catcher Chris Hernandez (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 RS), junior Carlos Garcia (2-for-4, two doubles), senior outfielder Ron Colmon (2-for-3, double, 3 RS), and junior Peter Mickartz (2-for-5, RBI).
The Mustangs tallied 14 hits, scoring one run in the first, three in the second, three in the sixth, and three more in the seventh.
Junior pitcher Anthony Lucio got the win, giving up only one run on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks, and junior reliever Armando Franco got one inning of work, giving up three runs on five hits.
Back on the Gilroy High diamond, the garlic diamondmen completed the home-and-home sweep. Mickartz went four innings, giving up only one hit and three runs with five walks and two strikeouts. Reliever Drew Anderson picked up the win, scattering four hits in one inning of work, while Garcia pitched the fifth frame and struck out two.
At the plate, centerfielder Josh Sterling finished 3-for-4 with a double and one run scored. The Mustang line-up also saw contributions from Anderson (1-for-1, two walks, RS), Mickartz (double, RBI), Garcia (1-for-3, RBI), Hemeon (1-for-3, RBI) and Mark Gonzalez (1-for-3, 2 RS).
Up next, Gilroy will play at Hollister on March 17 and return home on March 19 against the Haybalers at 3:30 p.m.
