Gilroy
– It was the classic pitcher-hitter matchup with Archbishop
Mitty veteran Megan Wirth facing Gilroy three-year varsity player
Lauren Chris.
Gilroy – It was the classic pitcher-hitter matchup with Archbishop Mitty veteran Megan Wirth facing Gilroy three-year varsity player Lauren Chris.
Wirth gained the upper hand early with two quick strikes, but it was Chris who struck back on a 2-2 count with a double to the fence in left-centerfield.
It plated the only run in an early season encounter against two teams in midseason form, one in which the host Mustangs won 1-0 over the two-time Central Coast Section Division II champion Monarchs. Each team played airtight defense and there was only one walk in the one-hour, 25-minute game.
For Gilroy junior righthander Melinda Ortiz, it was a spectacular debut. Ortiz, who pitched for the junior varsity last season, scattered four hits, struck out five, didn’t walk a batter and didn’t allow a runner to reach third until there were two outs in the seventh.
“It was pretty classic Gilroy softball,” Mitty coach and former Mustang star Sarah Caudle said after the Monarchs season-opener. “They did everything right. They executed well and stayed calm. (Ortiz) spotted her pitches well. We should have adjusted better.”
Meanwhile, Chris knew the importance of her fifth-inning at-bat, especially against the hard-throwing Wirth. The Mustangs (2-0) got an earlier double by Yolanda Esquivel. Caitlyn Pierotti tried to score from first but was thrown out at the plate with Esquivel taking third. Chris delivered with her second hit of the game.
“They’re really tough,” Chris said of the Monarchs. “She (Wirth) has good movement on her pitches. I knew we wouldn’t get many chances. I knew I had to do a job for my team.”
Ortiz certainly did her job, despite admitting a case of nerves to start the game. It wasn’t evident during a three-up, three-down first inning.
“I tried to jam them,” Ortiz said. “I knew the quality of hitters they have so it was important for me to hit my spots. I feel great.”
Mitty has posted a 44-11 record over the last two seasons. One of those wins in the 2004-05 season was 7-3 over Gilroy. Chris, a freshman at the time, remembers facing Wirth that season. The impression was lasting.
Wirth only had two strikeouts. She walked one and hit a batter. But except for the fifth inning, the righthander was never in trouble, allowing harmless singles to Chris and Jasmine Perez before the Mustangs struck in the fifth.
“(Ortiz) came out pitching hard,” GHS coach Catherine Hallada said. “She executed exactly as we wanted her to. We wanted to see how she would do in a game like this.
“It was the perfect at-bat for Lauren. It doesn’t matter what the situation. She hits the ball.”
Gilroy was flawless in the field as well. Hallada said defense is a strong suit for her team.
Against a team the caliber of Mitty, it takes good pitching, clutch hitting and airtight defense. The Mustangs had it all Tuesday.
Gilroy is back in action at 3:45pm today at Pioneer.
Mitty 000 000 0 – 0 4 0
Gilroy 000 010 x – 1 4 0
Wirth and Gallien; Ortiz and Pierotti.
2B-Esquivel, Chris.
