Central Coast Section champion Gilroy was well represented on
the Tri-County Athletic League all-league team for the 2006-07
season.
Central Coast Section champion Gilroy was well represented on the Tri-County Athletic League all-league team for the 2006-07 season.
Four-year varsity player Humberto Pineda was one of the finalists as TCAL Most Valuable Player, which was won by Pedro Morales of Alisal. Pineda, the Mustangs assists leader with 13, won Senior of the Year honors. A year ago he was Co-Junior of the Year. Pineda has an academic scholarship to California State University-Northridge.
Jose “Tapon” Velasquez, Gilroy’s leading scorer with 16 goals, shared Offensive Player of the Year honors with Raul Quintara of Salinas. Junior Eric Miller won Defensive Player of the Year honors. Sweeper Kevin Grove was named Junior of the Year.
The awards were voted on following the TCAL regular season. Of course, Gilroy was at its best in the CCS playoffs when it permitted just one goal in four games, blanking Nos. 1 and 2 Lincoln and Bellarmine Prep. The Mustangs outscored four playoff opponents 11-1. Interestingly, goalie Jairo Rodriguez- Avalos, who was in the goal for 10 shutouts during Gilroy’s season-ending 16-game unbeaten streak, did not earn first-team honors.
Those Mustangs who did were Pineda, Velasquez, Miller, Grove and sophomore forward Bruce Ocana. Rodriguez-Avalos was on the second team along with Edgar Hernandez, Jose Armando Hernandez, Noel Vera and Randy Moya. Andy Moya and Oscar Zuniga were honorable mention.
TCAL Honors
Most Valuable Player-Pedro Morales, Alisal; Co-Offensive Player of the Year-Jose “Tapon” Velasquez, Gilroy, and Raul Quintara, Salinas; Defensive Player of the Year-Eric Miller, Gilroy; Senior of the Year-Humberto Pineda, Gilroy; Junior of the Year-Kevin Grove, Gilroy; Sophomore of the Year-Isaias Abonce, Salinas; Freshman of the Year-Filimon Richerson, North Salinas; Coach of the Year-Carlos Casapia, Salinas.
