GHS softball spoils Live Oak’s playoff hopes, sends DeLorenzo
off a winner in 2-0 nod
By VYTAS MAZEIKA
Special to The Dispatch
GILROY – With the playoffs already out of reach, the Gilroy High softball team knew its season would end as soon as the last out was recorded in Thursday’s home finale.
For arch-rivals Live Oak, which came in with a .500 overall record, there was still a chance to reach the CCS Playoffs. But the Lady Acorns needed to come out on top in the rubber match to continue their season.
The Lady Mustangs, however, made sure both seasons came to a halt, playing the spoiler in a 2-0 shutout victory.
“We had four games to win one and we lost all four of them,” said Lady Acorns starter Juliette Bowers, referring to the team’s four-game losing streak to end the season. “I don’t like not going to CCS. It’s a sad thought.”
The Lady Mustangs (4-11 T-CAL, 11-16 overall), who had been part of the playoffs the past seven seasons, approached this rivalry game with a playoff enthusiasm and dedicated it to their one senior on the roster – catcher Bria DeLorenzo.
“I wouldn’t trade this team for a CCS team any day, because they’re awesome,” said De Lorenzo, fighting back the tears.
“This team will never, ever, be the same without her,” Gilroy head coach Julie Berggren said. “I’m sure she knows it, but she ‘is’ this team. It’s unbelievable how much her teammates support and stand up for her. And how much that she can influence this team, and motivate them, and guide them.”
“She is definitely going to be missed,” Berggren added.
Early on, it was tough to tell if either team would ever score. Live Oak (6-9 in T-CAL, 14-15 overall) was being handled quite easily by Lady Mustang freshman hurler Patricia Olvera, while Bowers was successfully fighting location issues. Each starter limited the opposition to one baserunner over the first three innings.
Then things began to unravel for the Lady Acorns.
What started off as a one-out single by Olvera in the bottom of the fourth turned into a bases-loaded situation two batters later. DeLorenzo’s flare over the second baseman’s glove and a fielder’s choice gone wrong forced Bowers to look for the strikeout.
And Bowers delivered by winning a tough battle with freshman first baseman Erin Magill, who struck out swinging. A foul pop-up to third base by freshman Amanda Tellez left the bases loaded, as Live Oak could breathe a sigh of relief.
“At first, I was a little disappointed,” said Olvera of squandering the scoring chance. “But then I was like, ‘Whatever, we’re just going to do the same thing next inning.'”
The Lady Mustangs indeed responded by applying more pressure. Live Oak was retired in order in the top of the fifth inning and then Bowers’ day in the circle would come to an abrupt end when the first two Gilroy hitters reached base. Sophomore outfielder Kristen Campos singled and junior teammate Christina Hernandez reached on a costly error from Bowers, whose errant throw to first base on a sacrifice attempt put runners on first and third with no outs.
The Lady Acorn ace finished with four plus innings of work, allowing four hits and walking none. Jackie Jacob came in to replace Bowers and control was an issue from the start as she walked the bases loaded.
Gilroy finally broke through when junior Kayla Aldridge’s roller could not be handled by shortstop Catalina Rawers. The infield single made the score 1-0 and the bases were still loaded with no outs. Jacob managed to fan Olvera for the first out, but promptly tossed a wild pitch that allowed Hernandez to score, giving Gilroy a two run lead on a pair of unearned runs.
No more damage was done in the inning, despite a hit batter that loaded the bases again with two outs, but the damage was already done.
The Lady Acorns did not go away, but the strain of three consecutive losses including a controversial defeat to T-CAL powerhouse Notre Dame (Salinas) earlier on the week was evident.
“When the last one is there and you don’t do it, there’s not a lot that you can do,” Live Oak head coach Barry McDonnell said. “This league is tough and we know all the games are going to be tough. We thought we had a win on Tuesday and we had it pulled out from under us. There’s no sure wins in this league at all.”
The Lady Acorns put two runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings, but failed to collect the key hit to drive in a run. Olvera responded each time and secured her first league win and shutout. Live Oak managed only four hits and one walk all game.
The freshman hurler, who was forced into action due to a leg injury to ace Sarah Villar, helped salvage one season and deflate another.
“I definitely wanted to win for Bria, and then when the game was over I found out that we kicked them off the playoffs. That was a plus,” Olvera said. “It was great.”
