Described by manager Johnny Ramirez as the Gilroy High baseball
team’s fuel to its engine, Bubu Garcia rarely let off the gas pedal
during the 2011 season.
Described by manager Johnny Ramirez as the Gilroy High baseball team’s fuel to its engine, Bubu Garcia rarely let off the gas pedal during the 2011 season.
The junior’s offensive production and subsequent numbers out of the Mustangs’ three-spot in their lineup speak for themselves. They also struck a cord with the Tri-County Athletic League’s coaches.
“It was pretty much a unanimous decision,” Ramirez said.
Garcia was voted the TCAL’s Most Valuable Player, topping the list of 12 Mustangs to earn league recognition; four of which selected as First-Team All-League recipients.
Defensive woes tainted the Mustangs’ (15-13) season with an aura of unpredictability. However, their potency at the plate rarely ceased – and that started with Garcia.
“He is our heart and soul. When Bubu goes, we go,” Ramirez said. “You expect good things to happen when he’s up (at the plate).”
Returning from a broken ankle that cut short his sophomore campaign, the shortstop collected a .538 batting average in league tilts, including six home runs, 30 RBI and an on-base percentage of .603.
“All his hard work to get back to that level of play paid off,” Ramirez said. “Bubu’s work ethic is superior. It’s an honor to be coaching a player like Bubu.”
Ryan Alba had the role of leadoff hitter down to a science. The speedy outfielder and spot-duty pitcher posted a .520 batting average and scored 18 times in league contests, which calculates to one run scored every game. And for his efforts, Alba, a junior, received a First-Team award.
Joining Garcia and Alba on the First-Team list are seniors Eric Vegas and Reed Kienle – two players Ramirez said will be tough to replace next season.
“It sucks losing a guy like Vegas,” Ramirez said. “He’s the man.”
A .429 average and some of the loudest home runs recorded validates Ramirez’s remarks.
Kienle discovered a new facet to his game this season; if he’s on base, he’s stealing. The senior infielder swiped 27 bases in league for the run-happy Mustangs, maintaining a .391 batting average and contributing 10 RBI.
“Reed found a groove at the end of last year and just stayed hot,” Ramirez said.
A trio of underclassmen, sophomores Brendon Holler and Ronnie Reed and junior Jordan Dexter, comprised the list of GHS second-teamers.
Holler stayed productive out of the ninth slot with 14 RBI and 13 runs scored, using a smooth left-handed swing to his advantage and a .391 average. As a pitcher, his mound service led to a 3-0 league mark.
First-year varsity player Reed was slotted into the second spot in Ramirez’s lineup at the beginning of the year and it’s where he stayed, finishing his initial season on the big club with a .314 average and 17 RBI.
Dexter, meanwhile, was in the squat behind home plate in all 27 games for GHS, though his .352 average in the box, contributed to his Second-Team selection.
An extensive list of honorees wraps up with five Honorable Mention nods – seniors Eric Brolin and Matt Bartholic, sophomore Jaylan Gallardo and freshmen Buba Lara and Sammy Aptekar. Gallardo also received the Sportsmanship Award.
“It was a great All-League meeting for Gilroy,” Ramirez said. “It was amazing. OUr players were really recognized. It was a fun season with these guys.”
