Gilroy Majors win 2-1 over Nevada in first round of Western
Regionals
The Gilroy girls Majors pulled out a 2-1 nail-biter over Nevada on Saturday in the first round of the Western Regionals tournament in Vancouver, Wash.
While the win was a team effort, no one played better than pitcher Casey Lester,
Lester threw a six strikeout, no-hitter and provided all three of Gilroy’s hits to propel the team one game closer to playing in the Little League World Series.
Through four innings, both teams were unable to get anything going offensively.
“We had a real good batting practice session (before the game),” manager Dusty Lester said. “But when we got in the game, they just kind of got the jitters. Luckily, Casey didn’t have the jitters. She said she wasn’t nervous at all.”
Casey led off the game with a single in the top of the first but was left stranded on the bases.
Four innings later, with the score still tied 0-0, Marizza Lucio got hit by a pitch and advanced to first base. Sarina Sandoval came in as a pinch runner and scored after Lester hit a triple. Lester then came home after a passed ball to give the team a 2-0 advantage.
Nevada tried to rally by scoring a run after two walks and a fielder’s choice out in the bottom of the sixth, but fell short in the final frame.
Gilroy’s manager noted that his daughter’s ‘no-no’ wouldn’t have been possible without the help of some excellent defensive plays by Kaylana Mah, Randi Rogers and Shawnte Garcia.
As for his own daughter’s play, Lester was clear that he was proud, but the team is so close-knit he would have felt the same about any player performing so well.
Gilroy’s girls play Wednesday night against Utah.
