Dallas Wilson was a homer shy of the cycle, Ben Reeder drove in three and scored a trio of runs and Max Pierce capped everything off with a booming home run as Gilroy blew past Pajaro Valley, 11-1.
The 3-4-5 hitters went a combined 8-10, scored eight runs, drove in seven runs and combined for the cycle as the Mustangs ended the game in six innings and was technically a home game for PV.
“Those three made good adjustments. Ben did a good job. (Really), all three of them,” said coach Billy Holler. “I was happy. They haven’t done that.”
Pierce’s homer—with two on in the top of the sixth—helped to shorten the game when he easily cleared the left field fence,
Reeder then scored the final run that allowed Gilroy to 10-run Pajaro Valley after he reached on an infield single.
After stealing second, he looked like he might be stranded when PV got the next two hitters out when Jon Castro came up with a strong liner into the outfield. Reeder easily scored from second for the final run.
Castro had a strong day, reaching safely three times and just once on a hit.
He first reached in the second inning when the second baseman booted a grounder, which allowed Gilroy to score its first run–oddly enough, it was Reeder from third.
Castro then reached again on a dropped third strike in the third before singling in the sixth.
Of 11 batters that came to the plate for Gilroy, all but one reached safely. As the team went a combined 12-31 with six scoring runs and four driving in runs.
Meanwhile, Wilson came up in the sixth inning needing a home run for the cycle. He tripled to right-center, followed with a single in the third and a solid double in the fourth.
But Wilson didn’t see a pitch to hit in his final plate appearance, drawing a four-pitch walk.
Holler said Pajaro was throwing softer than the boys are used to, so he was pleased to see the hitters react as well as they did, especially Wilson who flexed his muscles in the game.
“That’s the best Dallas has hit,” Holler said. “It’s not easy and everyone thinks it is.”
On the hill, Daniel Colmer returned to the game for the first time this season.
“He hasn’t pitched all year, but he’ll be in the mix come the end of the year,” Holler said. “He just got tired and started throwing balls.”
He threw three and a third of one-hit ball, but eventually came out in the fourth after issuing a pair of walks and hitting a batter.
Dylan Hsu took over, going the final two and two-thirds, allowing just three base runners.
“He’s a competitor. He competes. He’s one of my favorite kids on the team,” Holler said.
Holler was very complementary of his counterpart in the other dugout, noting how much Pajaro Valley is improving, even from the first time they squared off where the Grizzlies were shutout.
Holler said brand new coach Matt Manfre has the kids making simple plays like catching fly balls and playing catch.
“That team will get there,” Holler said. “Since Matt’s been there, they’re twice as good as they have been.”
Gilroy next plays North Monterey County in a home-and-away series starting 4 p.m. Wednesday in Gilroy.
