Track and field makes headway at K-Bell Invite
Boys’ Golf Off to 3rd Place TCAL Start
Halfway through its league matches, the Gilroy boys’ golf team is tied with San Benito for third in TCAL.
Normally, only the top two teams get an automatic bid to the Central Coast Section meet. But because one of the current top two teams is Salinas, which has been banned from spring playoffs by the CCS, the Mustangs have a good shot at the section meet.
“Third place is a big deal,” said Gilroy head coach Kari Williams.
Senior Stephen Freeth has been the team’s most consistent player, turning in the team’s lowest score in three of five matches.
Sophomore Estevan Gonzalez was Gilroy’s first and only medalist so far this season. He shot a 1-over 37 at Corral de Tierra on March 6.
As a team, Gilroy has won one triangular. The Mustangs’ 229 beat out Live Oak (241) and North Salinas (285) at Eagle Ridge on March 2.
The Mustangs have a meet today with Palma and San Benito at Ridgemark in Hollister.
McAvoy 4th at K-Bell
Besides his athletes’ final results, Gilroy track and field head coach Jeff Myers had something else telling him his team was doing pretty well at Saturday’s K-Bell Invitational at Los Gatos High.
“You could hear ‘Gilroy’ over the loudspeaker,” Myers said. “We were running our races and we were winning our heats or coming in second.”
Gilroy did not have its entire team competing at its first major invitational, but many of those that did posted personal bests or their top marks of the season.
Megan McAvoy had the highest varsity finish with a fourth-place performance in high jump. The junior jumped a season-best height of 4-10.
Also at the varsity level, freshman Ariana Vera was a heat winner in the 100 with a time of 13.8. Recording personal bests were Rebekah Komar (14.26 in 100m) and Veronica Grijava (26-4 in triple jump).
In frosh/soph competition, Steve Heisey blazed to a second-place finish in the 200 with a time of 54.71.
Boys’ Volleyball Off To 4-0 TCAL Start
In a battle for the top spot in TCAL, Gilroy recovered from a slow start to beat Palma 22-25, 25-18, 25-14, 19-25, 15-11 in Salinas Friday night.
Outside hitter Vinny DeLorenzo led the way with 22 kills and 10 digs. Middle hitters Jason Conrad and Dominic Jackson each had five kills apiece. Setter Gene Losongco had 42 assists.
“We came out really flat and they got a quick early lead on us,” said Gilroy head coach Craig Martin. “They’re just kind of relentless. They don’t let the ball hit the ground. They play some good team volleyball.”
Over the weekend, the Mustangs went 3-2 at the Willow Glen Hammering and Roofing Seminar, losing to a tough Leland team twice.
On Tuesday, the Mustangs improved their TCAL record to 4-0 with a 25-11, 25-7, 25-7 win over Salinas.
Gilroy is back in action today at 6:30pm at San Benito.
Rainouts Plague Softball, Baseball
Thanks to the wrath of Mother Nature, the Gilroy softball team has been able to play just one game in the past three weeks.
The Mustangs beat St. Francis 3-1 in Mountain View last Wednesday in their only outing of the season. The team was supposed to play its home opener against San Lorenzo Valley yesterday, but that game (along with the Gilroy baseball team’s TCAL showdown with Palma) was canceled because of the wet weather.
Against the Lancers, Liz Inez drove in all three of Gilroy’s runs on a bases-loaded triple in the fourth inning. Senior pitcher Sarah Villar (1-0) threw a 1-hitter while striking out six. Lauryn Chris, Kylie Herrada, Patty Olvera and Amanda Tellez anchored the Mustang defense.
Gilroy plays next at the Annie Lynch Circle of Champions at Twin Creeks on Saturday. The team will face Wilcox, St. Francis and Soquel, with the first game starting at 9am.
Tuesday’s baseball and softball games have yet to be rescheduled.
