Gilroy’s Ashley Serrano was a little surprised to find out that
she was going to be pitching in the Central Coast Section Division
I first-round playoff game against No. 11 Leland Wednesday
afternoon at the Salinas Sports Complex.
Maybe it’s a good thing that she stuck with her more comfortable
spot in right field as opposed to how she was introduced by the
announcer in the starting lineups.
”
I knew it was just a misunderstanding, but I was a little
worried that I would bat out of order,
”
Serrano said.
Since she hadn’t pitched in two years, Serrano willingly handed
over the hurler duties to Melinda Ortiz, who was more than content
to have a designated hitter. Ortiz had five strikeouts and gave up
just three hits in a 6-0 victory.
Gilroy’s Ashley Serrano was a little surprised to find out that she was going to be pitching in the Central Coast Section Division I first-round playoff game against No. 11 Leland Wednesday afternoon at the Salinas Sports Complex.
Maybe it’s a good thing that she stuck with her more comfortable spot in right field as opposed to how she was introduced by the announcer in the starting lineups.
“I knew it was just a misunderstanding, but I was a little worried that I would bat out of order,” Serrano said.
Since she hadn’t pitched in two years, Serrano willingly handed over the hurler duties to Melinda Ortiz, who was more than content to have a designated hitter. Ortiz had five strikeouts and gave up just three hits in a 6-0 victory.
With the win, No. 6 Gilroy (20-8) will advance to the quarterfinals on Saturday against No. 3 Homestead (22-5), which had a bye in the first round.
“We left a lot of girls on the bases, but we were still putting pressure on them,” Mustangs coach Catherine Hallada said. “They all did what they had to do.”
Gilroy set the tone in the first inning. In the top of half of the frame, leadoff hitter, Samantha Mancuso reached base on a close play at first but was later picked off at third. The Mustangs were able to get out of a bases-loaded jam, and then scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Gilroy Speedster Lauren Chris, who was 3-for-4, led off with a single and scored all the way from first on a little pop-up hit by Kylie Herrada that glanced off the catcher. The throw caromed off the first baseman’s glove into right field, allowing Herrada to go all the way to third.
Sara Lira brought Herrada in shortly afterwards with a solid single to left.
“We needed to come out that way, especially against this team,” Herrada said. “It really helps ease the pressure on the pitcher.”
After the first inning, Ortiz and the Mustangs settled down, retiring the next of 18 of 23 batters. The early runs quieted Leland’s bench, while the Mustang bench seemingly had a non-stop chorus of cheers going in support of their teammates.
Gilroy’s scoring was capped by a two-run opposite-field triple in the sixth inning by catcher Brittany Balanesi, who already had her gear on before getting up to bat, ready to catch the next inning.
“The first pitch was outside, so I was ready to go with it,” Balanesi said. “It just happened.”
Defensively, Balanesi said they wanted to work the corners against Leland.
“The umpire had a pretty tight strike zone early,” Balanesi said. “She [Ortiz] had a lot of movement on her pitches. We wanted to work the outside until they picked up on it.”
Eight of the nine Gilroy starters reached base in the game with a hit or walk.
“We were just trying to be patient at the plate,” Chris said. “She [Leland Lindsey Traun] had a good riser, but we knew we could hit her if we waited.”
The Mustangs scored a run in the second inning after Chris knocked in Angelica Galindo, who had singled. Gilroy added another in the fourth, despite two runners being caught in pickles between home and third. The running miscues were of the few things that didn’t go the Mustangs’ way. Gilroy did, however, leave 10 runners on base, a number Hallada says will have to be lowered if the team is to beat Homestead.
“We’re going to try and come out and play our game,” Hallada said. “We’re going to work on our intensity.”
Leland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 3 2
Gilroy 2 1 0 1 0 2 x – 6 10 1
