Hanging tough after four frames Friday afternoon, Gilroy
softball had missed some opportunities but hadn’t done anything to
put itself out of contention against visiting Archbishop Mitty.
Trailing 1-0, Mustangs pitcher Ashley Harrington had navigated
her way in and out of jams to keep her club close and it was simply
a matter of maintaining.
But by the time the top of the fifth inning was complete, three
costly errors had set up or resulted in five runs, putting Mitty on
course to earn a 7-0 non-league victory.
GILROY – Hanging tough after four frames Friday afternoon, Gilroy softball had missed some opportunities but hadn’t done anything to put itself out of contention against visiting Archbishop Mitty.
Trailing 1-0, Mustangs pitcher Ashley Harrington had navigated her way in and out of jams to keep her club close and it was simply a matter of maintaining.
But by the time the top of the fifth inning was complete, three costly errors had set up or resulted in five runs, putting Mitty on course to earn a 7-0 non-league victory.
“We were right there but it got away from us with errors,” Gilroy coach Catherine Hallada said.
“We told Ashley (afterwards) she was pitching a great game. They were putting it on the ground and the defense just wasn’t backing her up.”
Gilroy’s offense also had trouble getting the job done, mainly because of the work of Mitty pitcher Keilani Ricketts, who also hit a home run to score the game’s first run in the top of the third.
“She’s an incredible pitcher,” Hallada said. “She hits her spots and she has great speed.”
Offensively, Gilroy recorded just two hits.
Committing five errors total on defense, though, was the main reason for the defeat, according to GHS coaches. The Mustangs also allowed an unearned run in the top of the seventh while Sarah Lira was pitching in relief.
“It seems like we have zero (errors) or we have a lot,” Hallada said.
Gilroy (8-6-1) will try to get back on track after dropping its last two games by resuming Tri-County Athletic League play at home on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. against North Salinas.
Correction: The original posting of this article had the incorrect name for Archbishop Mitty pitcher Keilani Ricketts. The Dispatch regrets this error. Please send all future corrections to sp****@************ch.com.
