Each season the postseason rolls around and Gilroy High baseball
seems to be on a collision course with Valley Christian.
This year, the Central Coast Section selection committee decided
to spare both schools the waiting game, as Wednesday’s first-round
playoff contest at 4 p.m. at Valley Christian will mark the fourth
time in five years the two teams have been pitted against one
another in CCS.
”
You know, it’s not a surprise anymore,
”
Gilroy coach Clint Wheeler said about the matchup.
”
It’s (been Archbishop) Mitty or Valley the last five years.
”
Players on both clubs should be quite familiar with one another,
as the two teams faced each other in last season’s CCS semifinals,
a 4-2 Warriors victory. Valley Christian went on to beat San Benito
in the championship.
Each season the postseason rolls around and Gilroy High baseball seems to be on a collision course with Valley Christian.
This year, the Central Coast Section selection committee decided to spare both schools the waiting game, as Wednesday’s first-round playoff contest at 4 p.m. at Valley Christian will mark the fourth time in five years the two teams have been pitted against one another in CCS.
“You know, it’s not a surprise anymore,” Gilroy coach Clint Wheeler said about the matchup. “It’s (been Archbishop) Mitty or Valley the last five years.”
Players on both clubs should be quite familiar with one another, as the two teams faced each other in last season’s CCS semifinals, a 4-2 Warriors victory. Valley Christian went on to beat San Benito in the championship.
Adding to the rivalry – if one can call it that since Valley has been the victor in all four playoff games – are three Warriors (David Garcia, Clayton Eslick and Christian Lam) who chose to attend the private institution in San Jose but hail from Gilroy.
“I don’t think it’s anything personal,” Wheeler said when asked if there was bad blood between the two programs, “but any time guys get players out of your own backyard, it’s difficult.”
Valley enters the game as the No. 3 seed and heavy favorite after going 26-6 this season and having spent a short period of time ranked No. 1 in the state. Gilroy, in contrast, has had a far tougher task in making the playoffs, as the No. 14-seeded Mustangs sagged or soared depending on the week, and closed out the year 12-17.
The Mustangs have shown the ability to play tough against some of the area’s best this season, most notably three close losses to the playoff bracket’s No. 1 seed, San Benito. Beating Valley Christian, however, will require sustaining more effort and focus than the team has shown in any game this season. Gilroy is 0-2 against WCAL schools this year, with both losses coming to Mitty, which is a No. 4 seed on the opposite side of the bracket.
Wheeler expects the Warriors to put Jonathan Hughes on the mound, the same pitcher who got the win over the Mustangs in CCS last season, and use a small-ball approach on offense.
Valley Coach John “Diatti loves to play short,” Wheeler said. “They bunt, they drag and that’s what we’re going to work on in the next day.”
While talent and experience may be on Valley’s side, Wheeler doesn’t see confidence being a problem for his club.
“I think we do a pretty good job in this program about wanting to beat the best and be right there with the West Catholic (Athletic League teams),” he said.
Sophomore Taylor Chris (2-5) will get the start for the Mustangs, but Gilroy’s coach said every player on the roster will be available if needed.
The winner from Wednesday’s game will advance to play the winner of No. 11 Santa Teresa and No. 6 Menlo Atherton in the quarterfinals Saturday at PAL Stadium in San Jose.
