Opportunistic Gilroy used the long ball and small ball to get a
win Wednesday in the Monta Vista/Cupertino Host Lions’ Easter
Tournament at PAL Stadium in San Jose.
Opportunistic Gilroy used the long ball and small ball to get a win Wednesday in the Monta Vista/Cupertino Host Lions’ Easter Tournament at PAL Stadium in San Jose.
Tyler Osborne provided the big bat and Roberto Celestino hit the small ball that lifted the Mustangs to a 3-2 win over Terra Nova for their fifth straight win.
The Tigers struck first for two third-inning runs on a hit batsman, base hit, fielder’s choice and single.
Gilroy (12-8) got even in the fourth. Jacob Dexter walked with two outs and Osborne jumped on one of Chris Broadway’s few mistakes, sending a home run over the left-field fence. It was Osborne’s third home run of the season.
“Their pitcher was very good,” GHS coach Clint Wheeler said. “He threw four or five pitches for strikes and kept us off balance. We kept battling the whole game.”
The Mustangs scratched out the game-winning run in the sixth. With two outs and runners at first and second, Lukas Fortino struck out on a ball in the dirt. While the catcher argued he had caught the ball, Fortino hustled to first. Celestino hit a grounder into the hole between shortstop and third base, and beat it out for an infield single and the game-winning run.
Kevin Grove got the win, pitching six innings of six-hit ball with two strikeouts. Michael Stevens worked in and out of a seventh-inning jam, which started with an error. After a pop out and intentional walk, Charlie Duffy fielded a grounder, stepped on first and fired to Derek Engen who completed a double play.
Osborne and Stevens each had two hits for the Mustangs. Broadway went the distance for Terra Nova (4-11), allowing seven hits, striking out six and walking one.
“It was a good win for us definitely,” Wheeler said. “It looks like we’re starting to figure things out.”
Gilroy will try and complete an unbeaten run in the tournament when it faces Homestead at 7pm Friday at PAL Stadium.
Terra Nova 002 000 0 – 2 6 1
Gilroy 000 201 x – 3 7 2
Joe Broadway and Brenner; Grove, Stevens (7) and Fortino. W-Grove. S-Stevens. 2B-Contreras, Fortino. HR-Osborne.
