One day after being humbled, Gilroy did the humiliating.
One day after being humbled, Gilroy did the humiliating.
The Mustangs, coming off a 15-1 defeat, pulled a complete U-turn Saturday when they spanked Seaside 22-0 in the seventh-place game of the Carmel Invitational.
“A totally different Gilroy team showed up,” GHS coach Clint Wheeler said. “After the Bellarmine game (15-1 loss), we took a look at ourselves and asked what type of team do we want to be.”
It was the same type of team Gilroy was when it beat Homestead 17-2 for its second win of the season. During the last three games, however, GHS (5-7) had scored just five runs as it looked to be slipping backwards.
Saturday’s game, however, was the first of the next 22 games that count toward the team qualifying for the Central Coast Section playoffs. And the Mustangs couldn’t have made more of a statement.
“We wanted to come out with a different attitude and approach,” Wheeler said. “We had a much better approach. We didn’t score in the first inning and the guys were getting on each other in a positive way. It’s good to see they care about what’s going on.”
Gilroy asserted itself after the first inning, scoring all 22 runs in the next three innings and wearing out five Spartan pitchers.
Michael Stevens and Tyler Osborne led a 21-hit attack. Stevens went 5 for 5 with three runs scored and three RBIs and Osborne had two home runs and seven RBIs. Matt Hemeon had three hits, three runs and four RBIs.
“What was great is that everyone who played except one got at least one hit,” Wheeler said. “It was just a great approach for every single guy on the team. I hope we can continue this way.”
Lost in the lusty hitting display was brilliant pitching by Jacob Dexter and Stevens. Dexter pitched four innings, striking out seven and walking one. Stevens completed the one-hitter with a scoreless inning of relief.
The Mustangs open Tri-County Athletic League action at 4pm Wednesday with a game at Alvarez.
Seaside 000 00 – 0 1 4
Gilroy 095 80 – 21 21 1
Munoz, Shake (2), Serra (3), Duke (4), Graham (5) and Mascarro, Croft. Dexter, Stevens (5) and Celestino. W-Dexter. L-Munoz. HR-Osborne (2). 2B-Hemeon, Stevens, Contreras.
