There’s nothing like the sight of a rival to get the adrenaline
flowing.
There’s nothing like the sight of a rival to get the adrenaline flowing.
Make no mistake, Gilroy needed a shot of adrenaline facing its third game in six hours Saturday. Having to play Notre Dame in the final of the Charlie Miguel Invitational was just what the Mustangs needed.
Jasmine Perez got Gilroy off to a great start with a three-run homer and the Mustangs edged Notre Dame 7-6 to claim the tournament title and extend their current win streak to seven.
“We were a little tired,” said Alicia Reese, whose six hits in 10 at-bats led Gilroy in the three games. “But we were playing Notre Dame. We started hitting from the first inning. And Jaz’s home run got us stoked.”
Perez and Reese each had two hits in a nine-hit attack against the Spirits (12-2), who handed the Mustangs their last defeat. Perez was on base all three times with two hits and a walk. The sophomore outfielder and Amanda Tellez each scored two runs.
“It was nice to come back and beat Notre Dame,” second baseman Lauryn Chris said. “Our team is adjusting really well to the different speeds of the pitchers we are facing.”
In the opener Saturday, Gilroy (17-4) edged Fremont-Sunnyvale 4-3. Patty Olvera went the distance, allowing six hits and striking five. The senior right-hander also led the offense, going 2 for 3 with an RBI. Tellez knocked in two runs.
Melinda Ortiz shut down Soquel in the middle game, tossing a one-hitter as the Mustangs won 6-0. Ortiz struck out five and allowed one walk.
“Mo pitched very well just as Patty did in the other two games,” Chris said.
Reese collected three hits and Perez hit a solo home run. Brittany Balanesi, who hit in all three games, drove in two runs. Chris and Perez scored two runs apiece.
“It was great to win the tournament,” Perez said. “I was kind of nervous after the second game because everyone was a little tired and out of it. We struck through it and did pretty well. We were excited to beat Notre Dame.”
Chris feels the tournament title puts Gilroy in a good frame of mind as it prepares for today’s showdown against Tri-County Athletic League foe San Benito in Hollister. The teams are both once-beaten in TCAL behind Notre Dame.
“We’re really confident coming out of this tournament,” Chris said. “We have a lot of good momentum. We’ve improved a lot since last year when we finished 15-13. We’ve already passed that (win total). Our pitching is good and we’re playing good defense.”
