Gilroy’s Sarah Villar sparks Mustangs past ‘Balers with one-hit
pitching gem
By Scott Campbell, Staff Writer
Hollister – When Sarah Villar takes the hill, the Gilroy softball team knows that it’s winning day.
Villar, the Mustangs’ senior ace, put her perfect 4-0 record on the line in her team’s Tri-County Athletic League opener against San Benito yesterday. And she nearly emerged with a no hitter.
Bolstered by Villar’s one-hit masterpiece, Gilroy rolled to a 2-0 victory to put its name atop the league standings.
“Honestly, I can’t think of a better way to start off the season,” said Villar, who held the ‘Balers hitless through 5 1/3 innings.
The Mustangs (5-1, 1-0 TCAL) gave their ace an early lead and that advantage proved more than enough on an afternoon in which a strong wind blowing in from right field confounded both teams’ hitters.
Gilroy pounced on ‘Balers freshman starter Marisa Ibarra right off the bat, getting a leadoff walk from second baseman Lauryn Chris, who then advanced to second on a passed ball. Mustangs shortstop Kylie Herrada followed with a single and took second on a wild pitch. Chris scored on an infield groundout by Liz Ines, and then Amanda Tellez put Gilroy up 2-0 by driving in Herrada with a single to center.
With the wind knocking down most fly balls and Villar hitting her spots, San Benito (6-1, 0-1 TCAL) never developed a sustained threat. Villar retired 11 of the first 12 ‘Balers she faced – the only blemish was a hit batter in the second – and looked intent on throwing a no hitter until San Benito’s Jacqueline Clayton singled to left with one out in the sixth.
After Clayton took second on a groundout by Kristen Archuleta, ‘Balers clean-up hitter Lizzy Gatto crushed a ball to center. Ines, Gilroy’s center fielder, turned and raced toward the fence, but the wind kept the ball from carrying and Ines was able to snag it to extinguish the ‘Balers’ threat.
“When I started running, I thought it was over my head,” said Ines. “I thought it was gone.”
Buoyed by Ines’ standout play, Villar retired the ‘Balers in order in the seventh to lock up her fifth straight win.
“Villar’s a very tough pitcher,” said ‘Balers head coach Scott Smith. “She was the toughest pitcher we’ve faced.”
Said Gilroy head coach Catherine Hallada: “She’s carried us pretty much every game she’s been on the mound. She gets in a zone and today, she just did awesome.”
Aside from the first inning, Ibarra matched her senior counterpart nearly pitch for pitch. The San Benito starter surrendered just one hit the rest of the way, a bunt single to Yolanda Esquivel in the fifth, and never allowed another Mustang reach third base.
After her team handed the ‘Balers their first loss of the season, Hallada said the Mustangs’ victory took on added importance because it was the teams’ first league game.
“It’s huge. That’s making a statement,” said Hallada of the win. “We’re out here to win and to take league. That’s just the beginning.”
The Mustangs return to action by hosting Live Oak tomorrow at 3:45pm.
