Kirkland, Wash.
The effects of two weeks of travelling, a whirlwind ride at Western Regionals and the transition from the heat of Arizona to the cooler temps in Washington seemed to finally get to the Gilroy Junior All Stars.
A nine-run fourth inning was Gilroy’s undoing as the team dropped its Junior Softball World Series opener against East (West Cumberland, N.J.) 14-6 Sunday in Kirkland, Wash.
The exhaustion is due in part to Gilroy having to fight its way back through the loser’s bracket in the Western Regional tournament, playing eight games in six days to make it to the World Series.
“The girls are experiencing that hangover from Arizona because of the intensity and excitement,” Gilroy coach Nelson Villanueva said. “Honestly, the night we flew in and the following day pretty much every single girl slept during the day for about six or seven hours. I’m like ‘Oh my god, they’re going to have a hard time sleeping at night,’ but they needed it.”
The teams were tied at 5-5 heading into the bottom of the fourth, but things quickly got out of control for Gilroy. East started the inning off with a double to right field and never looked back. Gilroy — the Western Regional Champion — committed two errors in addition to a wild pitch aiding East in pushing nine runs across the plate that inning to lead 14-5.
Gilroy would score once more in the top of the seventh, but it wouldn’t be enough.
East’s pitcher, Haley Hulitt, was stellar in the circle for her team. She gave up only three hits, a run and a walk and struck out six in four innings of work.
“The East team did have a quality pitcher,” Villanueva said. “The pitcher that they brought in, I’d say she was probably throwing mid-60s. What mid-60s relates to is that is pretty close to college level — mid to high 60s. She brought it. Our girls hit the ball, we scored runs and I think we can bounce back nicely.”
East was the first to draw blood in the game, leading 1-0 at the end of the first inning. Gilroy answered with a double from Maria Sandoval that scored Cynthia Del Real to tie the game at 1-1.
East answered with four runs of its own in the bottom of the second, regaining the lead 5-1.
But Gilroy wasn’t about to go down without a fight.
With two outs and nobody on in the top of the third, things looked bleak for the Western champs. Gilroy was able to stay alive when Michaela Decker was hit by a pitch, putting her at first. Nikki Villanueva and Del Real hit back-to-back singles that allowed Decker to cross home plate.
Madeline Cox doubled to centerfield, scoring both Nikki Villanueva and Del Real. A single from Sandoval scored Cox, tying the game at 5-5.
Del Real was a perfect 4 for 4 with a double, stolen base, two runs and two RBIs in the game.
Cox went 1 for 3 with a double, run and two RBIs for Gilroy. Sandoval was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. She also pitched 3.2 innings, giving up 13 hits while walking four and striking out six.
Gilroy will square off against the Europe and Africa champs, Emilia, Italy, at 2 p.m. today.
“I think the next three games we should be very competitive,” Nelson Villanueva said. “I’m looking to win all of the next three games and at least going into the bracket as the No. 2, maybe No. 1 seed.”
