For the second consecutive game, the Gilroy 8- 9-year-old
National All-Stars defeated their opponents handily. The team beat
the Live Oak All-Stars 12-1 Tuesday night at Gilroy Sports Park,
but won this time in unusual fashion.
by Greg Chapman Staff Writer
Gilroy – For the second consecutive game, the Gilroy 8- 9-year-old National All-Stars defeated their opponents handily. The team beat the Live Oak All-Stars 12-1 Tuesday night at Gilroy Sports Park, but won this time in unusual fashion.
“Overall we played solid defense and we were just able to capitalize on some of their mistakes,” Gilroy manager Brent Drysdale said.
Four walks, two errors and two hit batters were eight crucial miscues in the first frame that helped Gilroy tally seven runs to take a commanding lead.
After scoring first to take a 1-0 lead, Live Oak threatened a couple of times, but couldn’t bring runners in to score.
With one out in the first inning, Live Oak’s Manuel Zamora singled, stole second base, reached third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball.
In the third and fourth innings Live Oak had a runner on third with two outs, but strikeouts shut down both innings.
Chad Hartman started on the mound for Gilroy and pitched three solid innings, and Erik Ornduff relieved him in the fourth.
Gilroy’s bats came alive in the bottom of that same inning, as the team collected four hits to score four runs, ending the game by the 10-run mercy rule.
Leading off the inning, Brendan Lerma hit a flair to center field that dropped for a single giving the team its first hit of the game. After reaching second base on a passed ball and stealing third, Lerma came home on another passed ball to make the score 9-1.
With two outs and no one on base, Alec Cordova drew a walk followed by two thrilling infield singles that beat out throws to first, loading the bases.
Dillon McFarland stepped to the plate and swung at the first pitch, hitting a slow chopper down the first baseline. The pitcher fielded the ball, but nobody covered first base and two runs came in, causing the umpire to call the game.
Even though Gilroy struggled with their bats, Drysdale wants the team to continue playing tough, solid baseball while sticking to the game plan.
“There is nothing more we can do besides keep playing the way we’re playing,” Drysdale said. “It seems to be working, so why change it?”
