Gilroy
– With the exception of a 9-1 loss to Archbishop Mitty last
week, the Gilroy HIgh baseball team has been running up the score
on the competition lately.
Over the last five games, Gilroy has outscored opponents
32-15.
Gilroy – With the exception of a 9-1 loss to Archbishop Mitty last week, the Gilroy HIgh baseball team has been running up the score on the competition lately.
Over the last five games, Gilroy has outscored opponents 32-15.
The Mustangs continued the trend Wednesday, drubbing Terra Nova 11-3 for third place in the Lions Easter Tourney.
So what’s the secret to the Mustangs’ hot offense?
“It’s a combination of (strong hitting and weaker pitching from opponents),” said Gilroy coach Clint Wheeler. “It’s that time of year where the competition we’ve faced has not been top-notch.”
Gilroy, which is now 9-5, scored the first run of the game in the opening inning thanks to some hard baserunning by junior Josh Sterling. Terra Nova tried to pick off Sterling at second, but the Tigers overthrew the ball into center field. Sterling took advantage of Terra Nova’s slow reaction and ran home to make it 1-0 Gilroy.
The ‘Stangs lead didn’t last for long. Terra Nova blasted a two-run homer and scored another run off senior pitcher Carlos Garcia in the second inning to grab a 3-1 lead.
Sophomore Michael Stevens (5 RBI) brought Gilroy back in the third with a two-run single to tie the game at three.
After that, the ‘Stangs steadily built their lead, scoring three more runs in the fourth and at least two runs in every inning after that, Wheeler said.
“We just chipped away and they walked a number of guys,” Wheeler said. “(The offense) was kind of spread around.”
After the rough second inning, Garcia (3 runs, 4 hits, 1 strikeout) was replaced on the mound by Anthony Lucio, who pitched the remaining five innings.
“He hadn’t got that many innings in a while,” said Wheeler about Lucio, who gave up no runs, three hits and struck out two for win. “He came in and did a good job when we needed him to.”
The Mustangs gets back into TCAL play this week, with games against North Salinas on Wednesday and Friday. Wheeler is also hoping to make up the home game with Palma that was rained out March 18. It was tentatively rescheduled for Monday, but Wheeler has yet to hear back from Palma.
