Solid defense and pitching was the Gilroy 8- and 9-year-old
All-Stars’ calling card once again. Gilroy now advances to the
championship game after defeating the Aptos All-Stars in extra
innings 3-1.
By Greg Chapman Staff Writer
Gilroy – Solid defense and pitching was the Gilroy 8- and 9-year-old All-Stars’ calling card once again. Gilroy now advances to the championship game after defeating the Aptos All-Stars in extra innings 3-1.
In a hard fought game, runs were at a premium with both teams using a combined five pitchers and for 23 strikeouts.
“It was a close game as expected,” Gilroy manager Brent Drysdale said. “They stuck in there and kept battling.”
Gilroy was first to bat and Aptos pitcher Braxton Peterson sat them down quickly, striking out the side. In four solid innings he struck out seven.
Chad Hartman started the game for Gilroy, and not to be outdone by his opponent, he pitched 2.2 innings, striking out four.
Alec Cordova relived Hartman and he had four good innings of pitching, striking out seven.
Aptos got on the board first using two singles in the third inning to score one run and take the lead heading into the fourth frame.
Gilroy responded by getting their first hit of the game in the fourth and scoring a run of their own to tie the game.
Lefty Dillon McFarland made it to first base on a fielder’s choice play, and a overthrow allowed him to advance to third. He would tie the game by stealing home after a ball got away from the catcher.
Gilroy came up in the top of the inning and was able to get the bases loaded with one out, but couldn’t bring runners home.
With one out the ball was hit back to Jack Peoples, who relieved Peterson, and he took the force out at home. With two outs a groundball to the shortstop ended the inning.
In Aptos’ turn at bat, Nathaniel Brown drew a lead-off walk but was gunned down at second base by catcher Anthony Drysdale in an attempted steal.
Gilroy’s next time at the plate was again cut short by Peoples, who struck out the side in the sixth, putting pressure back on Gilroy’s defense.
The bottom half of the sixth provided an antsy moment with Aptos getting a runner on third with two outs, but Gilroy was yet again able to get out of the jam.
“Everybody’s come through,” Drysdale said. “Today it just happened to be Cole Rhodes.”
With a runner on second and one out in the seventh, Rhodes smashed the ball over the right fielder’s head for a triple bringing a run home. Cordova brought Rhodes home with a sacrifice fly to center field, giving Gilroy a 3-1 lead.
Aptos didn’t go down quietly in the bottom of the seventh, however, loading the bases by being patient at the plate.
Erik Ordnuff, who relieved Cordova in the seventh, preserved the win by striking out the final batter, advancing Gilroy to the championship.
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By Greg Chapman Staff Writer
Gilroy – Playing in his only game in the tournament, 13-year-old Eric Vegas had a good day between the lines, leading the Gilroy Junior Majors All-Stars to a 5-4 victory over Milpitas.
Vegas pitched six innings, struck out nine batters and was 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run and three RBI’s.
Gilroy will play the rest of the tournament without Vegas who will be going on vacation with his family, but Gilroy manager Jay Palma feels they team will only get better as it plays more games.
“One game with him is enough,” Palma said.
Vegas started off the game by striking out the side. Then, in his first at-bat with one runner on, he smashed the first pitch he saw over the fence.
In the bottom of the second, Gilroy’s Ian Cary hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield giving the team what looked like a commanding 3-0 lead.
But Milpitas came back in the third and fifth, taking the lead in the game.
With two outs in the third, Miltipas rallied by getting a double and a misplayed ball by Gilroy allowed runners to score.
Eight batters came to the plate in the fifth, the most Vegas would face in one inning all game.
After giving up a single and hitting a batter Vegas attempted to pick off a runner at second, but the throw sailed into centerfield and both runners advanced. Two singles followed to bring in both runners as Milpitas took a 4-3 lead.
Gilroy would tie up the game in the bottom of the fifth as Michael Hartman singled, bringing home Nick McFarland from third. Vegas was money again in the sixth.
With one out, he singled through the 5-6 hole, bringing home Reed Kienle and giving Gilroy a 5-4 lead the team would not relinquish.
“He always comes through,” Palma said. “Just like the home run tonight.
“I think after today we’re going to be on a roll.”
