Coach Ruben Reyes doesn’t like to give out game balls
– it’s a team game, after all.
Gilroy – Coach Ruben Reyes doesn’t like to give out game balls – it’s a team game, after all.
Strike out 13 opponents in a huge tournament win, though, and he’ll make an exception.
“I never usually give a game ball out, but I gave Bryant one,” said Reyes of his star hurler, Bryant Cid.
Cid moved his fastball around the plate on his way to a complete game with 13 K’s to lead the Gilroy Nationals to a
9-3 win over the Santa Cruz Americans in Pool A of the District 39 Little League Minors (9-10) All-Star tournament Tuesday in Watsonville.
“He had good control and he challenged batters, which I loved,” said Reyes.
The win puts Gilroy just one more victory away from the tournament’s Final Four. The Nationals face Watsonville American tonight at 5:30pm at Pinto Lake City Park in Watsonville for the right to move on.
Cid got into trouble early. Up 3-0 in the bottom of the first, the pitcher walked three Santa Cruz batters to load the bases. But Cid dug in and struck out the next three to end the threat.
Cid helped his cause with three hits, including a double. Brian Delgado added two hits, Nick Chacon had a double and catcher Bailey Schipper made two great plays on foul tips for outs.
After taking the early lead, the Nationals struck again in the second inning for two runs, added three in the third and scored a final run in the fifth.
Gilroy, playing in the loser’s bracket after dropping their first game, have won two in a row.
“It was a pretty good team effort overall,” said Reyes. “(The win) gives us the chance to play tomorrow. It’ll be the highlight of these kids’ lives if we can pull it off tomorrow.”
The Gilroy Americans also played last night, facing off against the Santa Cruz Nationals in Pool B.
All-Star roundup
Several Gilroy teams are still alive in All-Star tournaments being held in the area. These include:
nThe Gilroy Americans of the Boys’ Majors tournament in Scotts Valley. The Americans beat Capitola-Soquel 10-6 on Saturday and face the Santa Cruz Americans tonight at 5:30pm. The loser of this game finishes in fifth place, while the winner goes on to play either Scotts Valley or San Lorenzo Valley on Friday at 5:30pm for a shot at the Final Four.
nIn the 11-year-olds tournament in Santa Cruz, both Gilroy All-Star teams are still alive in the loser’s bracket. The Americans benefitted from a San Juan-Aromas forfeit on Saturday and play Capitola-Soquel tonight at 5pm. The loser of this game takes a share of 7th place, while the winner goes on to face either Watsonville American or Scotts Valley on Friday at 6pm for a chance at the Final Four.
The Nationals had to play for their reward, and they did, beating the Santa Cruz Nationals 7-6 on Saturday. They take on the Santa Cruz Americans tonight at 7:30pm for the right to face San Lorenzo Valley on Thursday at 7:30pm and a shot at the Final Four. The loser tonight earns a share of 7th place.
nIn the Nine-year-olds tournament in San Juan Bautista, both Gilroy teams lost Saturday and finished with a share of ninth place. The Americans were beaten 19-8 by the Santa Cruz Americans, while the Nationals dropped an 8-2 decision to Live Oak.
