Gilroy
– Extra-inning games are almost becoming a habit for the Gilroy
softball team when it comes to TCAL competition.
Two weeks ago, the Mustangs went nine innings with Notre Dame
before falling 4-0.
Gilroy – Extra-inning games are almost becoming a habit for the Gilroy softball team when it comes to TCAL competition.
Two weeks ago, the Mustangs went nine innings with Notre Dame before falling 4-0.
Against North Salinas Wednesday, the game went the same amount of innings, but had a better outcome.
The Mustangs (1-1 TCAL) beat North Salinas for the first time in league in seven years in a 1-0 duel at home Wednesday afternoon.
“That’s the way the whole TCAL is, it’s anybody’s game to win on any given day,” said coach Julie Berggren after the game. “We’ve been telling the girls, if we can push a couple of runs across, we can win.”
With no outs in the bottom of the ninth and two strikes on her, Kylie Herrada got on base with a bunt. Later with one out in the inning, Amanda Pellez hit a deep grounder to the Viking shortstop, who had no play at first. Herrada, with some heads-up baserunning, wound up at second well before the throw.
Then senior shortstop Kayla Aldridge (2-for-4), who played excellent defense all game, provided the offensive boost the Mustangs needed by raking a base hit to right center which sent Herrada home for the winning run.
“We didn’t get a ton of hits, but we hit the ball hard today, which is something we’ve been working on.” Berggren said.
Sarah Villar earned the shutout and the win for the ‘Stangs.
“(Villar) was excellent on the mound today,” Berggren said. “She didn’t get as many calls as we would have hoped she would have, but she only gave up three hits. She gave up only singles today and that’s great.”
Gilroy had only one extra-base hit for the game, a double from Yolanda Esquivel in the fourth inning.
The junior varsity Mustangs had an easier time with the Vikings, beating North Salinas 15-1 on Wednesday in a win highlighted by a 3-run Caitlyn Pierotti triple in the 4th inning. Their record now stands at 11-2 overall.
Gilroy plays Friday at the Steinbeck Classic in Salinas.
Gilroy 1, N. Salinas 0
R H E
N Sal 000 000 000 0 3 0
Gil 000 000 001 1 4 1
WP – Sarah Villar (2 K’s)
LP – Jessica Boyle (3 K’s)
