Mustang baseball and softball teams open postseason today
Gilroy – Gilroy baseball head coach Clint Wheeler is hoping his team’s opening round game against Archbishop Mitty in the Division I CCS playoffs will have some of the characteristics of the last time the two teams met in the playoffs.
In the first round of the 2000 postseason, the Mustangs shut out the perennial powerhouse Monarchs 11-0.
“(Archbishop Mitty coach) Bill (Hutton) remembers it well,” Wheeler said.
Seventh-seeded Gilroy (16-10) will see if it can repeat history today against No. 10 Mitty (15-13) today at 4pm at Gilroy High.
The Monarchs, who hail from the powerful West Catholic Athletic League, are the defending CCS champions. But the team lost all of their seniors from last year’s championship squad, which has Wheeler feeling confident.
“They’re not a typical Mitty powerhouse,” the coach said. “If the real Gilroy team shows up, we should do pretty well.”
Even against the Monarch’s No. 1 pitcher, University of Michigan-bound Garrett Armstrong.
“He’s had an off year,” said Wheeler of Armstrong, whose record is 1-7. Though Wheeler noted that Armstrong has had to face other tough WCAL teams like top-seeded Serra, No. 2 seed Bellarmine, No. 5 seed Valley Christian and No. 6 seed St. Francis.
For Gilroy, senior Jeremy Teschera will be on the mound.
“He’s been pitching unbelievable down the stretch here,” Wheeler said.
The Mustangs also have home field advantage, something they haven’t enjoyed in the CCS playoffs in recent years. Last year, Gilroy traveled to Valley Christian for the opening round and suffered an 13-5 loss.
“I think they’re fired up. They’re really excited to get chance to see what they can do,” Wheeler said. “That was a big motivating factor in getting a home game.”
A couple hours after the Gilroy baseball team throws out the first pitch, the softball team will do the same thing in Salinas. The Lady Mustangs (14-9), who earned a No. 6 seed in the Division I playoffs, face No. 11 seed Mt. Pleasant at 6:45pm at the Salinas Sports Complex.
The Mustang will have senior pitcher Sarah Villar on the mound. But unfortunately for Gilroy, the Mustangs will be without three other starters for the playoffs. Sophomore catcher and pitcher Brittany Balanesi and senior center fielder Liz Ines are injured and junior third baseman Amanda Tellez is ineligible because of grades.
“We lost three at a key time, but it’s OK,” said Gilroy head coach Catherine Hallada. “I think it hurt us more in league. I think it kind of brought the girls down.”
To beef up the depleted roster and add some speed on the basepaths, Hallada brought up two players from the lower level teams.
If Gilroy wins, the Mustangs will face No. seed San Benito (26-3). The Mustangs beat the ‘Balers once this season. Also on the same side of the bracket as Gilroy is No. 2 seed Carlmont, a team on which the Mustangs held a 7-run lead at the Steinbeck Classic last month.
“It’s kind of good because we’ve seen San Benito and we know we can beat them. And Carlmont…we had a 7-run lead with them and ended up losing the game. But we know we can do it,” Hallada said.
The quarterfinal rounds for both baseball and softball will be played Saturday.
CCS Playoffs
CCS Division I Softball
No. 6 Gilroy vs. No. 11 Mt. Pleasant
Today, 6:45pm
Salinas Sports Complex, Field #2
CCS Division I Baseball
No. 7 Gilroy vs. No. 10 Mitty
Today, 4pm
Gilroy High School
