Kirkland, Wash. — It was a battle of the pitchers Monday, but only one could come out on top.
Unfortunately for the Gilroy Junior All Stars, it was Italy that walked away with the win.
Gilroy’s Maria Sandoval went the distance, allowing only two hits, one walk and one earned run in the team’s 2-1 loss to Emilia, Italy — the Europe and Africa Region Champions. Sandoval also struck out four in her stellar performance for Gilroy.
“She’s our No. 1,” Gilroy coach Nelson Villanueva said. “She did what she had to do. We had a couple miscues on the field that led to two runs, but those two runs should have never held up for them.”
Gilroy entered the game down two players from the Western Regional tournament. Itzel Jimenez suffered a severe ankle sprain during the championship game against Montana, leaving her out of commission for at least a week. Gilroy was also without the service of its starting catcher, Michaela Decker, who was too ill to participate in Monday’s game.
“We’ve had to do a lot of moving girls around that aren’t used to certain positions,” Villanueva said. “It just didn’t fare well.”
The lone run for Gilroy came in the top of the sixth off a Sandoval single that scored Nikki Villanueva. That was all the offense the Western Regional champs could muster up, stranding two runners on base.
Gilroy had threatened in its previous plate appearance, loading the bases with one out in top of the fifth inning. Emilia was able to get out of the jam with Gilroy hitting into a fielder’s choice and ground out to end the inning.
“Our girls were just being too aggressive, trying it as far as they can off the end of the bat,” Nelson Villanueva said. “We beat ourselves…. We weren’t getting quality at bats. In my opinion we should have probably 10-run ruled that team, but you have those days.”
Emilia jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. A single in the third and fifth innings would be the extent of the team’s offense for the remainder of the game.
Gilroy (0-2) continues pool play against the Southwest Region winners, Columbus, TX, at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday. The game is a must win if the team hopes to keep its goal of making it out of pool play alive.
“Our backs are up against the wall,” Nelson Villanueva said. “We’ve done it before. We’ve showed character before in being able to do it (stay alive). We’re in that same position again.”
