Major team also wins against Salslpuedes
GILROY – Gilroy’s 9-year-old All-Stars beat the Watsonville American team 14-7 in their first game of the District 39 All-Star tournament Tuesday.
Gilroy dominated the game but nearly lost after a seven-run fourth inning that allowed Watsonville to tie the score. But Gilroy answered back, scoring seven of its own and backed it all up with solid defense.
Coach Joe Lampkin said his team played well and worked hard to make something happen.
“We tried to force plays,” Lampkin said. “We try to manufacture runs by looking for bad throws and taking a chance.”
Gilroy put up four runs in the second inning after five consecutive batters reached base. The All-Star team added three more runs in the fourth inning, extending the lead to 7-0.
But the lead wouldn’t last the inning. Watsonville scored a run on a wild pitch and a throwing error. Later that inning, the Americans loaded the bases and scored three more runs.
Gilroy was forced to play the player shuffle during a pitching change that involved a substitution rule that made the original choice ineligible. After it was all worked out, Gilroy had a pitcher who got two quick outs, but couldn’t finish the inning, hitting the three batters.
By the end of the inning, Watsonville had tied the score.
Gilroy answered quickly, by scoring five runs in the top half of the fifth. The All-Stars added two more runs in the sixth, and final inning.
Watsonville threatened for a second time in the final inning with runners on the corners and no outs. Gilroy was able to get out of the jam following a base running mistake on a pop-fly that Gilroy was able to turn into the third double play of the day.
Then a fly out to right field ended the threat and the game.
Leading the way for Gilroy was Ryan Bay who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Also playing well were Marcus Medina, who hit two doubles and drove in a run, and Bryant Cid, who had a double and a single, driving in two runs.
On the mound for Gilroy was Jack Ross, who pitched three plus solid innings.
“He did real well,” Lampkin said. “He got us in front and put us in a comfortable position.”
Lampkin also credited his assistants with the victory, who he said helped keep the players focused during the game and at practice.
“The skills come from them,” Lampkin said. “I am the chess player. They keep the boys’ heads in the game and work with them during practices.”
Gilroy will next play Friday at Las Animas park at 5:30 p.m. where they will face the winner of the Aptos/Live Oak game.
Lampkin is eager to face the next challenge, especially if his team can face Aptos, who he said plays sound, fundamental baseball.
“It will be a challenge for the team where I can gage where we are at,” Lampkin said.
The winner of Friday’s game will advance to the final four of the tournament in Salslpuedes beginning July 10. The loser will fall into the loser’s bracket had have to play two games to make the final four.
Major District 39 All-Stars
Gilroy 7, Salslpuedes 5
Eric Vegas hit two three-run home runs in the third and fifth inning to help Gilroy come from behind to win.
Kyle Stannard went 2-for-3 with singles in the third and fifth inning. Logan Sweeney had a double in the fifth and scored on a base hit by Randy Guerrero.
Defensively, center fielder Jose Gamboa had two outstanding catches to stop two potential scoring chances in the third and fourth innings.
Shortstop Michael Aldridge, third baseman Tyler Price, catcher Bryan Sanchez, outfielders Juan Delgado and Cory Snyder also played solid defensively for Gilroy.
Three Gilroy pitchers (Ryan Tapia, Guerrero and closer Jacob Gonzales) teamed up to strike out six batters and allow only three hits in the game.
The next game will be Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Fran Ruso Field in Watsonville against Watsonville National.
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