The Gilroy baseball team’s recent trend of play has head coach
Clint Wheeler wondering if his squad knows what season it is.
Gilroy – The Gilroy baseball team’s recent trend of play has head coach Clint Wheeler wondering if his squad knows what season it is.
“Someone’s got to tell them it’s Easter and not Thanksgiving because we’re giving everything away,” Wheeler said.
The “giving away” of two runs on errors in the fourth inning against Palma in Salinas Monday hurt Gilroy. The Mustangs took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third, but ultimately lost 8-4.
Against Live Oak Saturday in Gilroy, however, it was Live Oak that gave Gilroy some runs. The Mustangs capitalized on a grounder through the legs of the Live Oak third baseman to score five runs in the fifth inning, scoring two runs on the bases-loaded error. After that, Gilroy junior Jacob Dexter hit a two-run double and the Mustangs eventually prevailed 5-2.
The two-game split puts Gilroy (6-6) in third-place in the Tri-County Athletic League behind San Benito (7-1) and Palma (6-0-1) with a 4-3 record. Barring rain, the Mustangs will host North Salinas at 4pm today.
After losing to Palma Monday, Wheeler couldn’t help but wonder how the game would have gone without his team’s errors.
“It would be a lot different game if we could not give the other team things,” he said.
A Gilroy fielding error in the fourth inning allowed the Chieftains to tie the game. Palma would score once more to take the lead. Finally, in the sixth-inning, Palma’s big slugger Gabe Arcoleo delivered a back-breaking two-run triple.
Gilroy, on the other hand, had trouble getting its own clutch hits.
“We left at least seven or eight guys on base,” Wheeler said. “We definitely didn’t get a clutch hit when we needed it. It makes a difference, especially against a team like Palma.”
Michael Stevens (2-for-3, RBI), Ryan Evanger (2-for-4, RBI) and Chris Hernandez (2-for-4) all had hits for Gilroy.
Wheeler felt starting pitcher Dexter (2 K’s 2 earned runs), who went four innings against the explosive Chieftains, had a good showing.
“I was impressed,” Wheeler said. “The kid kind of grew up a little bit.”
Drew Andersen earned the win against Live Oak. The senior also went 2-for-3 in that game. Matt Hemeon and Josh Sterling each had RBI’s against the Acorns.
GHS Golfer Freeth Takes 10th in 24-Team Meet
Gilroy’s Stephen Freeth shot an 80 at the Atwater Invitational at Stevinson Ranch Golf Course Monday, good for 10th place overall in the 24-team event.
As a team, the Mustangs shot a 339. Recording scores for Gilroy were Jami Binowski (83), Chad Wilson (88), Ryan Clark (88) and Estevan Gonzalez (90).
Grace Davis’ Andrew Lark shot a 75 for medalist honors. The Grace Davis team (319) also came out on top.
San Benito (324), Salinas (340) and Live Oak (367) also represented the TCAL at the meet.
The Haybalers’ Chris Shackleton shot a 77 for third place.
