GHS softball can’t recover from from Live Oak’s six-run third
inning, falls 10-3 to defending CCS champs
By LeAnn Shea Staff Writer
Morgan Hill – The first time the Gilroy Mustangs and the Live Oak Acorns softball teams met in Tri-County Athletic League action this season, the Mustangs came out on top in an 11-inning, 4-3 victory in Gilroy. In the rematch in Tuesday afternoon, the Acorns turned the tables on Gilroy with a 10-3 win at home.
“Today I think we came out a little flat,” said Mustang junior third baseman Amanda Tellez. “We only had a half hour to warm up because of our bus, but I’m not going to say that was the cause. We hit the ball pretty good and had people on base almost every inning. They’re (the Acorns) a good hitting team too. Anyone can win on any given day.”
With no outs and the score tied 1-1, Live Oak (13-6-2, 3-5 TCAL) broke the game open in the bottom of the third inning with five consecutive singles off of Gilroy starter Sarah Villar by Sarah Locarnini, Taylor Sutton, Alyssa Adamo, April Herrera and Kelly McDonald. Already leading 4-1, the Acorns’ Brittney Ondich then delivered the biggest blow of the inning when she blasted a three-run home run to center field. Ondich’s shot left Gilroy back 7-1.
“Brittney has been pounding the ball,” said Live Oak coach Barry McDonnell. “Her power hitting has lead to a lot of runs.”
Added Live Oak’s Herrera, “Sarah Villar started off really strong. She’s an awesome pitcher. This time we were able to capitalize. We need every win we can get. This time I think we both came out wanting it, but we were able to capitalize.”
Brittany Balanesi relieved Villar on the mound for the Mustangs (12-7, 4-4 TCAL) to help put Live Oak’s six-run inning to an end. After the Gilroy sophomore walked Amanda Rosevear, Gilroy got an excellent play from Tellez, who caught a hard line drive off the bat of Sabrina LaCorte and turned it into a double play for the first two outs of the inning. Tellez ended the third with a putout on a ground ball, one of many great plays the third baseman made throughout the game.
The Mustangs started to chip away at the lead in the top of the fourth as Balanesi scored on a throwing error off a ground ball by Gilroy senior Kylie Herrada to get within 7-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, junior Patty Olvera relieved Balanesi and retired the Acorns in order. Olvera went the rest of the way for Gilroy, striking out three and allowing two runs.
Gilroy rallied in the top of the seventh inning, loading the bases with no outs. Tellez drove in a run to make it 10-3 for the Mustangs with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Acorn pitcher Tricia Goularte ended the threat with a line drive and pop up to Sutton at shortstop to end the game.
Despite being stung by a bee on her non-pitching hand in the top of the third inning, Goularte went all seven innings for the Acorns, allowing just two runs.
“I was afraid we were going to lose her there,” McDonnell said. “Fortunately, it wasn’t on her pitching hand and the stinger was not that deep so we were able to scrape it out.”
The Mustangs return to the field on Tuesday when they host the TCAL’s only undefeated team, the Notre Dame Spirits (20-3, 6-0 TCAL), at 4pm.
“(After the game) we were just talking about moving forward and putting this game behind us,” said Tellez. “We set a goal to make the CCS playoffs and narrow it down to who we have to play next.”
