Gilroy Girl’s Majors All-Stars, made up of the best 11- and
12-year-old softball players in town, earned a trip to the Western
Regional Championships by defeating the Red Bluff All-Stars 8-4 in
extra innings Wednesday in American Canyon.
The victory, earned after a tense 11 innings, extends Gilroy’s
season as it tries to become the fourth All-Star team in five years
to qualify for the Little League Softball World Series.
”
That was the most exciting softball game I have ever been
involved in,
”
Manager Al Orosco said.
AMERICAN CANYON – Gilroy Girl’s Majors All-Stars, made up of the best 11- and 12-year-old softball players in town, earned a trip to the Western Regional Championships by defeating the Red Bluff All-Stars 8-4 in extra innings Wednesday in American Canyon.
The victory, earned after a tense 11 innings, extends Gilroy’s season as it tries to become the fourth All-Star team in five years to qualify for the Little League Softball World Series.
“That was the most exciting softball game I have ever been involved in,” Manager Al Orosco said.
The contest was tied three times until the 11 inning, when Gilroy put four runs on the board to break away for good.
“The girls kept their heads together and played their hearts out, ” Orosco said. “I’m very proud of them. They are a very special group.”
Dejah Raoof started the game by reaching first on an error and came around to score on a Lauren Castro ground-out. Red Bluff returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning top tie the game.
It wasn’t until the fifth inning Gilroy added another run, this time when Deanna Orosco singled, advanced to second and scored on a Raoof single two batters later.
Castro continued her strong pitching into the sixth, getting the first two batters out in the bottom half of the frame. Red Bluff came back again, though, using a single and double to score a game-tying run and send the game into extra innings
Both teams were held scoreless until the ninth inning, when Raoof again managed to get on base and scored on a MacKenzie Mitchell double. Mitchell later came home to score an insurance run on a close play at the plate.
The bottom half of the inning saw Red Bluff come back again, scoring twice to tie it the game at 4-all. With the bases loaded, Castro got into the 10th by recording a strikeout.
Nicole Green came in to pitch the 10th, walking the first batter but settling down to get the next three out. The 11th inning saw Gilroy blow the game open, as they scored four runs as darkness settled over the field. There was no comeback this time. Green finished the game by quickly recording the final three outs.
Standout offensive performers for Gilroy included Raoof and Mitchell (two doubles), and Brittney Souza and Jacklyn Cambria, who had two hits each.
Raoof also played excellent defensively, making three diving catches in center field. Castro needed 114 pitches through nine tough innings, but only allowed two runs.
Gilroy will begin play in the Western Regionals Sunday in Vancouver, Washington against the Oregon All-Stars.
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If you would like to donate money to help support the team’s travel expenses, make checks out to: Gilroy Little League, P.O. Box 111, Gilroy, CA, 95021, in care of Girls Majors Travel Expenses.
