Gilroy boys’ volleyball faces Hollister on Tuesday for
first-ever league title; GHS softball and baseball get back on
track; tennis takes down Watsonville and Hollister; Mustangs make
noise in the pool with a couple of CCS Championships qualifiers
GILROY – An easy three-set victory over the visiting Palma Chieftains Thursday let Gilroy continue its collision course with rival Hollister in a 6:30 p.m. match tonight which will likely decide if the Tri-County Athletic League title is split or belongs to San Benito.
The Mustangs cruised past Palma (25-16, 25-10, 25-14) behind a 36-assist effort by Greg Calimpong. Other notable GHS performers included: Alfred Medenceles (10 kills), Thomas Costa (six kills, four blocks), Steven Valdez (five kills, four blocks), Samuel Howard (six kills, seven digs) and Gavin Menges (five digs, three aces). In total, the Mustangs tallied nine blocks and eight aces.
A much tougher test will come tonight in the form of the ‘Balers (19-7 overall, 10-0 TCAL), who handed Gilroy (17-4, 9-1) its only loss in league this season.
“I know and the guys know we played probably our worst match of the season the last time we played Hollister,” Gilroy coach Scott Martin said. “As long as we worry about ourselves and the way that we’re playing, everything will take care of itself.”
SOFTBALL
Jasmine Perez was perfect at the plate Thursday, belting a home run and triple to record three RBI for Gilroy softball in a 6-5 win at Alvarez. The victory was the second in as many games for Gilroy after losing five straight.
“I think they’re getting a little more confidence right now, and, hopefully, we’ll keep it up and go from there,” Gilroy coach Catherine Hallada said,
Ashley Harrington earned the win for the Mustangs, striking out two batters, while Stephanie Rodriguez, (RBI), Dani Hemeon (RBI), Casey Lester (RBI) and Melanie Morelos (two doubles) all had two hits.
Thursday’s win followed a 14-4 victory over Alisal on Tuesday. GHS sophomore Sarah Lira plated six runs in the game by hitting a grand slam and two-run home run.
Hallada is hopeful her club can continue piling up wins to sneak into the Central Coast Section playoffs. After losing 10 seniors from last year’s team, getting this season’s club to come together has been a work in progress.
“I think they’re realizing what they have to do,” Hallada said. “They’re talented girls and it’s finally hitting them they’re going to have to play with each other. You can all be great individual players, but I think they’re learning how to play with each other and for each other.” Results from Monday’s game against Notre Dame were unavailable as of press time.
BASEBALL
Five games remain in the season for Gilroy baseball, and the Mustangs look to be a good bet to end the season above .500. Road victories over Alisal and North Salinas on Friday and Saturday, respectively, pushed Gilroy’s record to 15-10 overall, 9-4 in the Tri-County Athletic League.
Max Fishler, a junior, gave the Mustangs their third straight stellar pitching performance for an 8-0 win over Alisal. Fishler went six innings and finished the game with 10 strikeouts while allowing just one walk and two hits. He received plenty of help at the plate from sophomore Eric Vegas, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI.
A day later Gilroy earned its fourth win in a row by completing the season sweep of North Salinas with a 12-3 win. Thomas Harrington earned the victory in four innings of work on the mound, and seven different batters brought runners home.
Gilroy will play its next two contests on the road with games today at 4 p.m. at Alvarez and Friday at 4 p.m. at Salinas.
TENNIS
Gilroy’s boys tennis team took care of business against Watsonville last week, winning 7-0 to give coach John Langer some relief about where his team is at this late in the season.
“It was good to come back after spring break with a win,” Langer said. “Watsonville was a lot tougher than when we played them early in the season. All of our guys played solid. It was a hot day and they stepped it up.”
Gilroy followed the win with a 4-3 victory over San Benito on Monday, getting a strong effort from its singles players, three of four whom won.
“Of all of our regular season matches, this is the team I thought we matched up against the best,” Langer said. “They have very strong doubles. I am so proud of our guys.”
Langer added that No. 4 singles player Ryan Azad was especially impressive, coming back after losing the first set.
“It was a great confidence booster for Ryan,” Langer said.
See full results from Watsonville and San Benito below:
Watsonville Singles (Gilroy first)
1. Vinh Vong def Juan Lopez 6-2,7-6(7-4)
2. Matt Chan def Miguel Sanchez 6-3,6-0
3. Oliver Drewry def Sandro Renteria 6-4,2-6,(10-8)
4. Ryan Azad def Josh Pitt 6-2,6-3
Watsonville Doubles (Gilroy first)
1. Mitch Souza/Andrew Costa def Jose Martinez/Lamar Lowans 7-5,6-3
2. Zach Singh/Jared Besson def Ivo Basor/Jorge Medrano 7-6 (9-7), 7-5
3. Joseph Leong/Kevin Lee def Jose Lopez/Christian Barrajas 6-4,6-4
San Benito Singles (Gilroy first)
1. Vinh Vong def. Derek Panger 6-0,6-2
2. Matt Chan lost to Mark Tobias 3-6,1-6
3. Oliver Drewry def. Kyle Skinner 6-7(1-7),6-3,(10-4)
4. Ryan Azad def. Austin Pan 0-6,6-4,(10-4)
San Benito Doubles (Gilroy first)
1. Mitchell Souza/Andrew Costa lost to Jon Rudolfs/Michael Jensen 2-6,2-6
2. Zach Singh/Jared Besson lost to Conner Bray/Tony Culler 6-4,1-6,(7-10)
3. Joseph Leong/Kevin Lee Def Thomas Parcell/Eric Johnson 6-3,6-4
SWIMMING
Notre Dame just nipped Gilroy High’s girls swim team Friday, beating the Mustangs by a mere five points, 89-84, mainly due to 10 points received from diving. Gilroy does not have a diving program. Meanwhile, Gilroy’s boys swim team cruised to a comfortable 95-74 victory over the visiting Palma Chieftains.
Among the day’s highlights, Jacob Abruzzini (backstroke), Eddie Malick (breaststroke), David Pribyl (fly) and Michael Shields (free) combined to qualify the Mustangs for the Central Coast Section Championships with a time of 1 minute, 45.85 seconds in the 200 medley. Brandon Creswell filled Abruzzini’s slot in the 400 free, helping the foursome to qualify for CCS as well with a time of 3:33.85. Below are full results:
Notre Dame 89, GHS 84
200 MEDLEY RELAY: GHS – 2:06.61 Maegan Collett, senior (backstroke, Michelle Shields, freshman (breaststroke, Isabella Comin, junior (fly), Coleen Tanaka, sophomore (free); ND – 2:09.24.
200 FREE: ND – 2:16.12; GHS – 2:31.54 Francesca Comin, freshman; GHS – 2:32.49 Lauren Rhodes, sophomore.
200 IM: GHS – 2:33.92 Isabella Comin, junior; ND – 2:55.88.
50 FREE: GHS – 26.76 Michelle Shields, freshman; ND – 28.56.
100 FLY: GHS – 1:04.80 Maegan Collett, senior; GHS – 1:07.96 Isabella, Comin, junior; ND – 1:13.21.
100 FREE: GHS – 59.21 Michelle Shields, freshman; ND – 1:08.77.
500 FREE: GHS – 6:28.60 Nicole Nelsen, sophomore; ND – 7:03.60.
200 FREE RELAY: ND – 1:55.40; GHS – 1:59.05 Isabella Comin, junior, Francesca Comin, freshman, Colleen Tanaka, sophomore, Nicole Nelsen, sophomore.
100 BACK: GHS – 1:07.73 Maegan Collett, senior; ND – 1:13.07; GHS – 1:15.87 Lauren Rhodes, sophomore.
100 BREAST: ND – 1:21.35; GHS – 1:24.73 Nicole Nelsen, sophomore.
400 FREE RELAY: GHS – 4:20.71 (Collett, Shields, Nelsen Rhodes); ND 5:02.74.
GHS 95, Palma 74
200 MEDLEY RELAY: GHS – 1:45.85 – Jacob Abruzzini, junior (backstroke), Eddie Malick, junior (breaststroke), David Pribyl, senior (fly), Michael Shields, freshman, (free); Palma – 1:49.45.
200 FREE: Palma – 1:59.10; GHS – 2:02.00 Brandon Creswell, senior; GHS – 2:11.26 Jacob Abruzzini, junior; GHS – 2:14.81 Kooper Knutson, freshman.
200 IM: GHS – 2:06.67 Eddie Malick, senior; GHS – 2:14.48 Brian Pribyl, sophomore; Palma – 2:17.95.
50 FREE: Palma – 23.92; GHS – 25.78 Aaron Apolonio, senior.
100 FLY: GHS – 58.59 David Pribyl, senior; Palma – 59.68.
100 FREE: GHS – 53.68 Michael Shields, freshman; Palma – 55.16; GHS – 55.95 Brandon Creswell, senior.
500 FREE: GHS – 5:02.26 David Pribyl, senior; Palma – 5:33.19
200 FREE RELAY: Palma – 1:39.45; GHS – 1:43.52.
100 BACK: GHS – 1:00.06 Jacob Abruzzini, junior; GHS – 1:02.12 Michael Shields, freshman; Palma – 1:03.35.
100 BREAST: GHS – 1:00.23 Eddie Malick, junior; GHS – 1:02.41 David Pribyl, senior; Palma – 1:08.60.
400 FREE RELAY: GHS – 3:33.85 (Malick, Shields, Creswell D. Pribyl); Palma – 3:40.69.
