A loss is the last way anyone wants to finish a season, let
alone a career.
But Wednesday marked the end of the line for Gilroy baseball and
the Mustangs’ manager.
Following a 4-2 defeat to host St. Francis in the first round of
the Central Coast Section playoffs, Clint Wheeler announced he will
not be returning for an 11th season as skipper of the club,
stepping aside after spending 20 years with the GHS program,
including four years as a player and six as an assistant.
MOUNTAIN VIEW – A loss is the last way anyone wants to finish a season, let alone a career.
But Wednesday marked the end of the line for Gilroy baseball and the Mustangs’ manager.
Following a 4-2 defeat to host St. Francis in the first round of the Central Coast Section playoffs, Clint Wheeler announced he will not be returning for an 11th season as skipper of the club, stepping aside after spending 20 years with the GHS program, including four years as a player and six as an assistant.
“I’ve had a great time,” Wheeler said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
The Mustangs (17-13-1) most likely wouldn’t change too much about the way they played in their final game of the year either. Committing two errors in six innings, neither of which resulted in runs, Gilroy came up short offensively through a mix of missed opportunities and unlucky line drives.
“Just hit the ball right at them,” GHS junior Jordan Holler said.
On top of stranding eight runners on base total, Gilroy was snakebitten by several line drives that made a beeline for St. Francis fielders.
“They played us very well,” GHS junior pitcher Taylor Chris said. “They were always in the right spots.”
The Lancers’ Richard McCaffrey can also take much of the credit, as the lefty went the distance, limiting the Mustangs to six hits in seven innings while striking out five.
“I wasn’t afraid to give up a run, but I knew I couldn’t because their pitcher was lights out,” McCaffrey said.
Chris worked himself in and out of several jams to keep the game within reach, most notably in the bottom of the fourth when the Lancers went ahead 3-2 on a bases loaded walk to Alex Blandino with just one out. Chris responded by striking out the next two batters.
“I thought at times [Chris] pitched phenomenal,” Wheeler said. “I can’t ask anymore of him for what he did.”
By the time Chris handed the ball to Holler in relief in the bottom of the sixth with two outs, Gilroy was still in the game, trailing 4-2. Holler struck out Sam Meyer to get the Mustangs to the top of the seventh, but the rally was not to be.
No play was more indicative of what kind of day it was for the Mustangs than Holler’s at-bat to start the final frame.
The junior pounded a ball sharply to shallow left field but the Lancers’ left fielder, Tyler Goeddell, made a diving grab to record the first out. Eric Vegas hit a sharp single an out later, but a Lukas Fortino chopper down the third base line was easily fielded to record the game’s final out.
“For whatever reason, we’re just not scratching and clawing enough,” Wheeler said about the season ending on yet another close loss. Gilroy lost seven games this season by two runs or less.
“We’re definitely not a 17-13 team, but you gotta learn to win.”
Early in the game, the Mustangs looked more than capable of upsetting the Lancers despite holding an 11-seed in the 16-team bracket to St. Francis’ six.
Rafael Garcia gave Gilroy a 1-0 lead in the top of the first through a two-out RBI single to score Roberto Celestino.
St. Francis evened the score through an RBI double by Scotty Jarvis in the bottom half of the frame and took a 2-1 lead in the second when Patrick Moniz plated Goeddell with a single.
The Mustangs responded in the top of the third when Brandon Elam scored Fortino on a soft single which carried into short center field. Fortino started the inning by ripping a single off the toes of Blandino, who was sitting in the hole at shortstop for the Lancers.
Gilroy had six hits to St. Francis’ seven, but timing proved to be everything. The Lancers, leading 3-2 with two outs in the sixth, used Jeff Degregorio as a pinch hitter and the senior responded with a double to score a pinch runner from first.
St. Francis (24-9) will face Wilcox, which beat Carlmont 2-1 Wednesday in 10 innings, in the CCS quarterfinals Saturday at 3 p.m. at West Valley College.
Wheeler said he told his team a few weeks ago this would be his final season, making everyone on the club well aware the season-ending loss would be coinciding with manager’s final game.
“People move on, but we’re going to miss him,” Holler said. “He’s a good coach.”
