GHS softball plans for playoff run as No. 9 sleeper seed
GILROY – There’s just too much post-season experience on the Gilroy High softball team not to give them a fighting chance in this year’s CCS Division I Playoffs.
So once the nailbiting was over and the selections were in – handing the 14-14 Lady Mustangs a welcomed No. 9 seed and a first-round game Wednesday against No. 8 Oak Grove at 4 p.m. in the Salinas Sports Complex – no doubt remained that a garlic playoff run was possible and forthcoming.
“We’re very happy. It’s a great seed for us. We played them the third game of the year and we beat them,” said Berggren, whose squad defeated Oak Grove by a slim 3-2 margin in a May 6 non-league clash. “It was a close game. We scored our runs on an error.
“I don’t remember her being over dominant,” added the second-year skipper of the Lady Eagles hurler. “That was the first game Laura (Hennessee) and Jenn (Olvera) were back from basketball.”
Olvera – the Lady Mustangs’ seasoned ace – is making her fourth straight playoff appearance as well as Gilroy’s star senior corners – third baseman Cherise ‘Reese’ Martinez and first baseman Jenna ‘Jedi’ Daugherty. Another veteran senior – centerfielder Laura Hennessee – will take the field Wednesday for her third consecutive CCS Playoffs.
“They’ve all been there,” said Berggren, who will head up her second playoff team in as many years. “I think we have enough experienced girls that all have played championship softball. This is nothing new to them. Even the younger girls have played in the Little League World Series.”
Senior second baseman Dallas Hernandez – who has played in big games before with the Salinas Gold 18U squad – is looking forward to making her very first and last Central Coast Section softball experience one to remember.
“Definitely ready,” said Hernandez as she put on a batting helmet before running the bases at Monday’s practice. “We’re happy about making it. We can compete. We can definitely beat Carlmont if we play our game.”
If the Lady Mustangs get past co-league champion Oak Grove (16-11) in the opening round, they will take on top seed Carlmont – which has beaten them twice this season – in Saturday’s second round at Hawes Park, starting at 2 p.m.
“They’re ready. They’re excited,” said Berggren, who told the team together during a Saturday team meeting. “The girls are tired of losing the close games. They want to win them.”
Gilroy – which lost 11 one-run games this season alone – is fueled by the right arm of Olvera and the steady defensive unit that keeps them in games even against two of the state’s top-10 ranked teams, Notre Dame and North Salinas.
“If (Olvera) can throw like she did versus Notre Dame and North Salinas the last time we played them, it definitely makes it hard for the other teams to get hits,” Berggren said. “Our defense has been superb lately. Jenn Daugherty hasn’t made an error all season and the rest of the team has very few errors. If we go in there fired up and relaxed, it will be an exciting game.”
With Martinez and Daugherty powering the corners and heart of Gilroy’s line-up as well as junior catcher Bria DeLorenzo behind the plate, Hernandez and sophomore shortstop Kayla Aldridge – a first-year transfer – have teamed up all season to fill the middle of the Lady Mustang infield.
“We’ve tried to rely on our seniors a lot this year and sure they’ve stepped up. But we have a ton of underclassmen support that made this possible,” Berggren said. “Four games and we have the title.”
Along with Hennessee in centerfield, Gilroy’s grass is patrolled by junior rightfielder Jessica Sandoval – whose been one the team’s hot hitters as of late – and freshman leftfielder Kristen Campos – who adds another solid bat to the lineup since replacing injured freshman standout Liz Ines.
“(Hitting) been our focal point all year, especially after last year. I think we definitely have something to prove – that we belong in the playoffs,” Berggren said. “All the girls went last year into the playoffs and lost their first game. These girls are ready to make a run.”
