All three Gilroy Little League softball teams are poised to take
Northern California state championships.
Gilroy – All three Gilroy Little League softball teams are poised to take Northern California state championships.
The Majors, Minors and 11-year-old All-Star teams are all undefeated through All-Star play, and if they win tonight, they each will take home championships.
To advance to the title games, the Minors beat West Chico, 5-4, Sunday in Manteca, and on Monday, the Majors beat Manteca, 6-1, in Sunnyvale. Also on Monday, the 11-year olds took down the younger Manteca team 16-12, in Manteca.
The Majors’ 6-1 victory extended their win streak to five games. Both Gilroy and Manteca entered the game with 2-0 records in the tournament. The win puts Gilroy into the championship game tonight at 6:30pm at Sunnyvale’s Washington Park against either All-City or Anderson Little League from Shasta County.
Since Gilroy is the only team remaining without a loss in the six-team tournament, it will have to be beat twice to lose the championship. At stake is a trip to the Western Region Little League tournament in Vancouver, Wash. this weekend, where Gilroy would face the Southern California champion and the champions from several other western states.
The Gilroy Majors got the scoring started in the bottom of the third inning when Marissa Gamboa led off the inning with a double and later scored when Alissa Castro (2-for-3) doubled. Manteca answered back in the top of the fourth with their only run of the game on a walk and a throwing error.
In the bottom of the fourth, Gilroy stretched its lead to 4-1 when Michelle Sosa (2-for-3) led off the inning with a single, followed by two walks to load the bases. Lindsay Holt and Adrianna Osuna then hit consecutive singles to produce three runs. Gilroy picked up another two runs in the fifth when Castro singled, Sosa tripled and Manteca committed a throwing error which allowed Sosa to come home for the final Gilroy run.
On the mound, Gilroy pitcher Sam Parraz held Manteca in check the entire game, giving up only one hit and four walks while striking out 10 batters.
In the Gilroy 11-year-olds’ 16-12 win over Manteca, Sarah Ordaz and Randi Rodgers were sharp late in the late game on the mound.
“Everybody was nervous but those girls have nerves of steel,” said 11-year-olds manager Mark Ordaz.
At the plate, Sarina Sandoval went 2-for-2 and had some outstanding defensive plays in center field.
On Saturday, Gilroy had an easier contest, dispatching Antioch, 11-2. Casey Lester tossed a no-hitter and struck out nine.
Gilroy led 4-1 in the fourth before breaking the game open in the fifth inning with five runs.
The 11-year-olds’ offensive power came from Stephanie Gomez (3-for-4), Jasmine Gutierrez (2-for-2) and Ordaz (2-for-3).
Both the Minors and 11-year-olds play tonight at 5:30pm and 7:30pm respectively in Manteca. The Majors championship is tonight at 6:30pm in Sunnyvale.
