Two days after playing what some players were calling their best
game of the season, Gilroy High’s varsity baseball team received
perhaps its best starting pitching performance.
Two days after playing what some players were calling their best game of the season, Gilroy High’s varsity baseball team received perhaps its best starting pitching performance.
Sophomore Taylor Chris threw six scoreless innings while allowing only one hit and striking out six batters as the Mustangs went on to win their sixth-straight game with an 8-0 victory over Salinas. Gilroy recorded a 13-3 win over the visiting Alvarez Eagles Tuesday.
“Taylor pitched unbelievable,” Mustangs coach Clint Wheeler said. “He’s fundamentally way advanced for his age. He’s been coached well by his father.”
On top of his work on the mound, Chris also had three hits, including a double. He now leads the team with 15 hits on the season.
Jose Gamboa, batting in the nine-slot, hit a 2-out, 2-run double in the second inning, helping to break open the game, according to Wheeler.
Kevin Grove, Charlie Duffy and Roberto Celestino also had hits in the game Thursday.
After beating up on the Eagles Tuesday, a contest that showcased three Mustang pitchers with Chris Salter getting the win in three scoreless innings of relief work, Gilroy certainly has things going in the right direction. The team has rebounded from a slow start that Wheeler and company saw coming.
“I think we prepped them coming in (to the season),” the coach said, noting that the team’s schedule started later than most and the Mustangs were facing good competition. The result after winning their last six games is players “believe in themselves,” Wheeler said.
Against Alvarez, Gilroy won by imposing the 10-run mercy rule in the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Mustangs’ offense was ignited in the first by leadoff hitter Danny Contreras, who smacked a ball over the wall to cut the first-inning deficit to 3-1. Chris followed with a walk before scoring on a Duffy double. Grove then got on base through a walk of his own before Jordan Holler brought both runners across the plate with a triple – his second of the season.
Offensively, the second and third innings were equally effective for the Mustangs as Gilroy gained a commanding lead. The Mustangs scored on a ground-out by Roberto Celestino that brought Contreras home from third after the centerfielder stole second and third base. Chris, who got on base by a walk and stole second before moving to third on Celestino’s out, scored on a wild pitch a batter later, giving Gilroy a 6-3 lead.
Duffy was the next man in the order, hitting a single to right field before coming home on the following at-bat – a home run blasted over the left field wall by Grove.
“It definitely felt good,” said Grove, who finished the game with five RBI. “I’ve been struggling (at the plate) a bit lately.
“For our team in general, I think this was our best game so far.”
While the Mustangs (6-4 overall, 5-0 Tri-County Athletic League) will play the away portion of their two-game series with Salinas Saturday at noon, the game everyone seems to be eyeing is an April 10th meeting with San Benito (7-3, 4-0), the only other team still undefeated in the TCAL.
“We said we were going to take [games] one at a time, but [it’s] on your calendar marked,” Wheeler said.
