Gilroy’s varsity boys baseball team continued to roll Saturday
by dispatching the Alvarez Eagles in six innings for a 13-0 win in
Salinas.
Gilroy’s varsity boys baseball team continued to roll Saturday by dispatching the Alvarez Eagles in six innings for a 13-0 win in Salinas.
After losing their first four games of the season, the Mustangs have now won four straight to post a .500 record. The victory also marked Gilroy’s third win in as many games in Tri-County Athletic League play.
Sophomore Taylor Chris earned the victory for Gilroy, pitching five innings of shutout ball with six strikeouts while only allowing two hits and two walks. Chris Salter came on in relief to pitch the final inning, striking out two batters. Lukas Fortino handled catching duties for the Mustangs.
“We played a pretty good overall game,” Gilroy coach Clint Wheeler said. “Taylor Chris pitched really well. We (also) had a much better approach at the plate like we talked about.”
Seven different batters brought runners in, with Fortino, Roberto Celestino, Charlie Duffy and Jose Gamboa all recording two RBI. Kevin Grove, Derek Engen and Chris all had one RBI each.
Grove and Celestino both had doubles while Fortino, Gilroy’s catcher, stretched his legs for a triple.
“He’s definitely solid,” Wheeler said in reference to Fortino, his signal-caller and backstop. “He’s working hard behind the plate and that triple should hopefully really give him that confidence to get things going.”
Gilroy and Alvarez both had four errors on the day while the Mustangs had an 11-2 advantage in hits.
Having a pitcher on the mound like Chris, only a sophomore, seems to have an energizing effect on the lineup, according to the Mustangs’ coach.
“I think our guys have a lot of confidence any time he takes the hill,” Wheeler said. “He’s a young kid, but he always seems to go out there and have good stuff.”
Gilroy’s next game will be today at 4 p.m. when the Mustangs play host to Alvarez. The team will then follow with another game at home Thursday at 4 p.m. against Salinas.
James Lafuente is expected to start today’s game but is not expected to last more than a few innings. Wheeler said he will plan on using several different pitchers out of the bullpen to share duties.
“Everyone is going to throw an inning,” Wheeler said.
Chris will be back on the mound Thursday against Salinas.
While the Mustangs got off to more than a slow start to begin the season, their coach sees no reason why the recent success can’t continue.
“The big thing we talked about was a league championship and our last 22 games,” Wheeler said, noting that the final 22 contests will count for Central Coast Section tournament seeding.
“We’re back to .500 and our guys are excited about that – reeling off four in a row. We’re looking to roll off even more, maybe eight or nine in a row.”
TCAL Statistics
Player, school Hits AB Avg.
Brann, SB 3 3 1.00
Blueford, Salinas 3 4 .750
Jensen, Salinas 3 4 .750
Duffy, Gilroy 6 9 .667
Scott, SB 3 5 .600
Haggett, SB 4 7 .571
Terrill, Palma 5 10 .500
Hernandez, Sal. 2 4 .500
Santana, NS 5 10 .500
Lagapa-Talbott, NS 5 10 .500
Papurello, NS 4 10 .400
Canez, SB 4 10 .400
Taylor, Gilroy 5 11 .454
Lauritzen, Palma 3 7 .428
Ramirez, Alisal 3 7 .428
S.-Lopez, Alisal 3 7 .428
M. Aldrete, Sal. 2 5 .400
Holler, Gilroy 3 8 .375
Celestino, Gilroy 4 11 .363
Fhurong, SB 2 6 .333
Caraccioli, Palma 3 9 .333
Ohman, Palma 2 6 .333
B. Aldrete, Salinas 2 6 .333
Gamboa, Gilroy 3 10 .300
Organista, NS 3 10 .300
RBI: Duffy (Gilroy) 5, Celestino (Gilroy) 5, Bergin (Salinas) 4, Canez (SB) 3, Haggett (SB) 3, Scott (SB) 3, Fhurong (SB) 3, Taylor (Gilroy) 3, Grove (Gilroy) 3, Wright (Salinas) 3, Blueford (Salinas) 2, Jensen (Salinas) 2, White (Salinas) 2, Fabing (SB) 2, Hernandez (Salinas) 2, Fortino (Gilroy) 2, Engen (Gilroy) 2, M. Aldrete (Salinas) 2, Ramirez (Alisal) 2, Lagapa-Talbott (NS) 2, Organista (NS) 1, Caraccioli (Palma) 1, Vega 1 (Palma), Ohman (Palma) 1, Ramirez .
Doubles: Brann (SB) 3, Celestino (Gilroy) 2, Hernandez (Salinas) 2, Grove (Gilroy)1, Vega (Palma) 1, Terrill (Palma) 1, Caraccioli (Palma) 1, Ohman 1 (Palma), Silva (NS) 1, Organista (NS) 1.
Triples: Fortino (Gilroy) 1, Grove (Gilroy) 1, Duffy (Gilroy) 1
Home runs: Haggett (SB) 2, Scott (SB0 1, Canez (SB) 1.
Pitchers IP H W K ER ERA
Carma, Sal(1-0) 6 4 1 10 0 0.00
Taylor, Gil(1-0) 5 2 2 6 0 0.00
Gillies, SB(1-0) 5 0 1 6 0 0.00
Chacon, Alisal 4.1 4 1 0 0 0.00
Morris, Pal(1-0) 8 3 0 8 1 0.87
Lafuente, Gil(1-0) 5 9 4 4 1 1.40
Canez, SB(1-0) 5 6 1 3 1 1.40
Fishler, Gil(1-0) 4 2 3 3 1 1.75
Sanchez, SB(1-0) 4 4 1 2 1 1.75
Silveira, Pal(0-1) 4 2 4 5 2 3.50
Papurello, NS (0-2) 10 11 6 4 6 4.20
