By Ana Patejdl
Gilroy
– Last week was Championship Week for college basketball
conferences across the nation.
This week is Separation Week in TCAL baseball. Or, at least,
that’s what Mustangs coach Clint Wheeler likes to call it.
By Ana Patejdl
Gilroy – Last week was Championship Week for college basketball conferences across the nation.
This week is Separation Week in TCAL baseball. Or, at least, that’s what Mustangs coach Clint Wheeler likes to call it.
The ‘Stangs took one step toward separating themselves from the two other top teams in the Tri-County Athletic League, Live Oak and Palma, by defeating the Chieftains 6-3 on their own turf Wednesday night. With the win, the Mustangs improve to 3-0 in TCAL play. Palma drops to 2-1.
“Friday (against Palma at Gilroy High) is going to be really big,” Wheeler said. “If we can get to 4-0 (in league), it would be really huge.”
Getting the win on the mound Wednesday was Noel DeLatorre (2-0), who gave up four hits in six innings. Peter Mickartz came on in the seventh for the save.
Mickartz (4 RBI) also continued his hot streak at the plate. The senior outfielder and pitcher hit two two-run doubles, one in the second inning and one in the fifth.
The Mustangs escaped a rough fourth inning, when a Palma rally was highlighted by a three-run triple. But DeLatorre was able to get out of the inning without giving up any more runs.
“We got three outs before they could score more and saved our lead,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler said the ‘Stangs refocused in the fifth. “We answered with those two (Mickartz) runs, which was big,” he said.
An insurance run in the same inning sealed it for Gilroy.
“As a team we’ve been playing good defense,” Wheeler said. “Between our pitching and defense our hitting didn’t have to do a whole lot to keep us in the game.”
