In the fifth-place game against Latin America
– Gilroy’s last of the Little League Softball World Series – the
Garlic City all-stars came up short of leaving Portland on a
winning note.
Gilroy – In the fifth-place game against Latin America – Gilroy’s last of the Little League Softball World Series – the Garlic City all-stars came up short of leaving Portland on a winning note.
Still, the Garlic Girls finished Gilroy’s first-ever trip to the World Series with the right to say they are sixth best in the world.
The West representatives dropped a 3-1 decision to the Curacao, Netherlands Antilles team Wednesday and finished out their dream trip with a final record of 2-3 at the World Series.
In a rare occurrence, the Curacao team out-hit the usually offensively potent Gilroy team 7-4.
Visiting Gilroy looked like it would be the first to score in the top of the first inning. With one out, second baseman Michelle Sosa reached on an error. First baseman Lindsay Holt ripped a double, moving Sosa to third. But Curacao pitcher Rigmayra Poulina got outfielder Adrianna Osuna to pop out and catcher Melanie Morelos to ground out, which left Sosa stranded.
The home team, representing Latin America, got on the scoreboard first in the second inning when Rohena Maduro sent home Lydia Pieternella on a sacrifice.
Curacao scored again in the third to take a 2-0 lead. Signaida Olbina singled home Geraniella Thomson, who was walked by Sam Parraz.
In the fourth, Gilroy put a runner on third again. Third baseman Brenna O’Neill, who had reached on a single, was batted forward to the hot corner, but the West left a runner stranded there for a second time in the game.
Gilroy finally pushed a run across in the fifth to cut Curacao’s lead to 2-1. Shortstop Alissa Castro led off the inning with a triple and eventually came home on an error.
But another Curacao run in the bottom of the fifth meant Gilroy needed to score three runs in the top of the sixth and then hold the Latin America team for a half inning. Gilroy didn’t come through with the hits.
Today’s championship game, televised live on ESPN2 at 6:30pm, pits McLean, Va. (South) against Orange, Conn. (East).
A parade in the garlic girls’ honor
Gilroy city councilman Craig Gartman, who is in charge of planning the annual Memorial Day parade, is putting together a Saturday homecoming parade for the Gilroy team.
“I was in the gym last night and I came up with the harebrained idea that we need to do something to recognize the accomplishments of this team,” Gartman said.
Set to begin at 10am, the parade will begin at 7th Street and travel down Monterey Rd. to Lewis St. and culminate in the parking lot at the intersection. The team will be gathering at the train station at 9:30am.
In addition to the rest of the Gilroy community, Little League president Christine Drysdale hopes the entire Little League contingent will come out in full force to welcome the team home.
“We would like everyone who participated in Little League, even in their uniforms, to line the streets for our girls,” Drysdale said.
Since the team made the World Series, Gartman has been raising money for the team to help offset the thousands of dollars the journey has cost the league and families of the players. As of Wednesday evening, Gartman had collected about $6,000. He will present the money to the team upon its return.
Gartman is also looking to have the team honored before the first city council meeting of the new session, which will take place Sept. 19 at 7pm at City Hall.
Anyone who would still like to donate to the fund can contact Gartman directly at 710-6090.
