Big bats and the powerful right arm of
”
Big
”
Jon Robles helped the Gilroy Cardinals soar to a 12-1 victory
over the San Lorenzo Valley Astros Monday night at the Gilroy
Sports Complex.
BY JOSH KOEHN SPORTS EDITOR
Gilroy – Big bats and the powerful right arm of “Big” Jon Robles helped the Gilroy Cardinals soar to a 12-1 victory over the San Lorenzo Valley Astros Monday night at the Gilroy Sports Complex.
The win vaulted the 11-12-year-old Gilroy Boys Majors league champions into the semifinals of the double-elimination, 39th District Majors Tournament of Champions.
Robles held the Astros in check for three innings, which was long enough to allow the Cardinal hitters to build a substantial lead and force umpires to call the game in the top of the fourth inning due to a 10-run mercy rule.
Cardinals assistant coach Henry Huerta gave credit to the Astros players for battling, but said there was no stopping the Cardinals’ ace on this day.
“They played good, it’s just “Big” John pitched really good.”
Taking a 7-0 lead in the first inning, Robles had a lead that was never threatened as he and his teammates had little trouble knocking the ball around. First baseman Sean Lopez led the way going 3-3 with five RBI and no Cardinal batters struck out the entire contest.
“Everybody came here with their A-game today,” said Cardinals head coach, Brian Chrisman.
The relative ease of the win came in stark contrast to Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Aptos Red Sox. Already having lost a game to Scotts Valley in the Majors TOC, the Cardinals were trying to avoid elimination and a late Aptos rally.
The Cardinals were in danger of surrendering their lead in the bottom of the sixth and final inning, but a pickoff play at second base helped get Aptos’ best player out, ending the game.
J.J. Jiminez knocked in Austin Guerrro for the Cardinals’ first run before Guerrero batted Bryant Cid in for the winning margin.
The Cardinals will try to advance one step closer to the coveted Tournament of Champions title tonight at 6pm at field A-1 at the Gilroy Sports Complex.
Minors TOC
Giants 13,Marlins 3
The Giants continued to win Saturday against the Marlins from Watsonville. Pitchers Eric Ornduff, Bryan Easton and Justin Hale combined for nine strikeouts and allowed five hits and two walks. Offensively, the Giants exploded in the fifth and sixth innings with 10 hits and 10 runs. Brian Easton went 3 for 3 with two singles and a two-run double. The Giants also played Monday. Results were not available at press time.
