n Staff Reports
The Gilroy Hot Shots 16U team finished its season with a third-place finish in the 2006 Western NSA World Series held in Seattle, Washington July 17-22.
Pool Play Game 1: Tacoma Sting vs. Gilroy Hotshots.
Gilroy smashed the Sting 10-0 and the game was called after the fourth inning by ruling of 10 runs. Gilroy was able to accomplish this feat with pitching from Melinda Ortiz, who had eight strikeouts and allowed only one hit. She was backed with hot bats by Angelica Galindo (2), Jasmine Perez (2), Mikhaela Osuna (3) and Jessica Garcia (2).
Pool Play Game 2: Westside Blitz vs. Gilroy Hot Shots
This was the final game of pool play to decide where Gilroy would be seeded. Gilroy matched up great with Blitz, Brittany Balanesi pitched a great game with three strikeouts and strong support of the defense, but in the end the stale bats of Gilroy would end up in a 2-1 loss. With this loss, Gilroy was seeded No. 2 in the bracket.
Game 1 Reg. Play Gilroy Hot Shots vs. Canada Fusion
In this game, the Hot Shots bats were resurrected with two singles by Melinda Ortiz and singles by Brittany Balanesi, Angelica Galindo, Andrea Garcia Jessica Garcia, Ashley Gamboa, Jennifer Gross and a double by Mikhaela Osuna and a triple by Jasmine Perez. All these hits gave plenty of run support for pitcher Melinda Ortiz who had eight strikeouts and allowing three hits. Gilroy went on to win 5-1.
Game 2 Reg. Play Gilroy Hotshots vs. Modesto Slammers
This game was much like the last, where pitcher Melinda Ortiz had six strikeouts and was backed by great run support. Brittany Balanesi and Jasmine Perez had two singles and Angelica Galindo and Jessica Garcia had doubles. Hotshots won 3-0.
Game 3 Reg. Play Gilroy Hotshots vs. Fresno Sudden Impact
In this game, Gilroy was handed ot first loss in double elimination regulation play with the score of 3-2. Gilroy had singles by Brittany Balanesi, Jasmine Perez, and Angelica Galindo. Pitcher Melinda Ortiz had a satisfactory game with three strikeouts and five hits allowed.
In Game 4 Reg. Play Gilroy Hotshots vs. Reno Rebels
Melinda Ortiz rebounded back with seven strikeouts and only one hit allowed. The Hotshot bats awoke and got back into the swing of things with singles by Brittany Balanesi, Angelica Galindo, Mikhaela Osuna, Andrea Garcia, Jessica Garcia and Ashley Gamboa and a double hit by Jasmine Perez. The Hotshots won 4-0 over the Rebels.
Game 5 Reg. Play Gilroy Hotshots vs. Modesto Slammers
Again Melinda Ortiz showed the heart of a champion with eight strikeouts and only three hits allowed. Gilroy went back and forth with Modesto. With hits by Ashley Gamboa (single), Brittany Balanesi (double), and a home run by Jasmine Perez. Modesto had a runner on second, and a batter up who hit a shot over center fielder Jessica Garcia, Jessica reacting without any hesitation recovered the ball and fired the ball to cutoff Melinda Ortiz (pitcher), who then relayed the ball to catcher Jasmine Perez, who was then sent into the stands by the collision of the runner, Perez held on to the ball and made the out. Jasmine Perez had to be sent to the hospital for fear that she may have suffered a concussion. The runner was ejected and the game continued. In the top of the seventh inning with the Slammers having a runner on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs. A hit out to right field looked like more runs for the Slammers, but with the spectacular catch by Jennifer Gross to get the third out sealed the win for Gilroy.
Game 6 Semi final Gilroy Hotshots vs. Fresno Sudden Impact
Game 5 was a game of hopeful redemption for Gilroy who had previously lost to Fresno by the score of 2-1. Melinda Ortiz started the game strong but had to leave shortly there after in the bottom of the third inning due to heat exhaustion. So Manager Javier Ortiz was left with the decision to place Brittany Balanesi in as pitcher, who had caught most of the Hotshot games. So with Jasmine Perez still at the hospital, Gilroy placed their third string catcher Jennifer Gross behind the plate and Mandy Lafuente at right field. With all this adversity it was a 3-1 game in the bottom of the fourth, until many the Hotshots broke down and forced errors and allowed Fresno to score another run, making the score 4-1. The fifth inning started and Perez returned from the hospital still dazed but without concussion, but it was just too little too late, and the Hot Shots could not return from the deficit. Gilroy lost with the score 4-1 and took third place overall in the World Series out of 18 teams.
