Gilroy’s girls definitely know their way around the diamond. In
an impressive three-team run for state titles, the Gilroy girls
All-Star Majors, Minors and 11-year-old softball teams all made it
to the semifinals or better
Gilroy’s girls definitely know their way around the diamond.
In an impressive three-team run for state titles, the Gilroy girls All-Star Majors, Minors and 11-year-old softball teams all made it to the semifinals or better in the Division II State Championship tournaments taking place across the Bay Area. Here is a quick recap of each team’s progress.
Majors
Manager Dusty Lester is confident this bunch will be representing the West in the Little League Softball World Series taking place this August.
The main reason is familiarity. All 12 of the girls on the team also play for the Chaos traveling club team. After playing in roughly forty games together over the past year, each player has a defined role, and each player knows how they and their teammates should react in any situation.
“If our team plays up to its capabilities, we should win,” Lester said.
Last year’s squad placed fifth in the World Series so expectations are even higher this year. The team has four returning players in Casey Lester, Sarina Sandoval, Celeste M. Jiminez and Kaylana Mah.
The team plays in Concord today at 3pm against either Martinez or Red Bluff. The girls have already beaten Martinez, but Red Bluff would be a new opponent as the two have yet to play one another. Either way, the Majors will have two opportunities to take the crown. Since the tournament is double-elimination and Gilroy has yet to lose, the team will play again at 5:30pm if the girls drop the first game.
Minors
The girls Minors team made it as far as the semifinals before losing Tuesday night’s game 6-0. The team placed third overall.
Manager Art Barron had nothing but positive things to say about the effort of his girls, and the sacrifices they made to get so far.
“Ever since day one we’ve been emphasizing it’s a team,” Barron said. “A lot of these girls played different positions (before All-Stars) and we told them we’re going to put you where it’s best for the team, and they’ve been great about it.”
Unfortunately for the Minors, a late game on Monday night and a lot of traveling between Gilroy and Martinez may have caused a bit of fatigue.
“They were flat, that game yesterday took away from the game today,” Barron said. “We went two extra innings (on Monday) and it took a little out of the girls.”
Nevertheless, Barron said it was the experience playing in these games that mattered most.
“All the girls played, and they all had a good time.”
11-year-olds
After capturing the District 5 title, Gilroy was given its first state champion of the year on Monday night when the 11-year-old squad trounced the competition to move on to the Little League World Series. The team, led by manager DJ Simpson, won all three of its games in the State championship tournament and will now be taking the title of ‘West’ representative in the LLWS.
Coach Simpson was unavailable for comment.
