When a team is as streaky as the Gilroy Mustangs have been this
season, getting into the postseason often becomes a numbers
game.
So, on Thursday, as the Mustangs entered a contest with the
Salinas Cowboys, needing only one more victory to qualify for the
Central Coast Section playoffs, according to the projections of
Gilroy’s manager, one would think there would be a sense of
urgency.
But after seven innings of baseball, the Mustangs found
themselves on the wrong end of a deflating 5-1 Tri-County Athletic
League contest in Gilroy, after being winners of their last
four.
When a team is as streaky as the Gilroy Mustangs have been this season, getting into the postseason often becomes a numbers game.
So, on Thursday, as the Mustangs entered a contest with the Salinas Cowboys, needing only one more victory to qualify for the Central Coast Section playoffs, according to the projections of Gilroy’s manager, one would think there would be a sense of urgency.
But after seven innings of baseball, the Mustangs found themselves on the wrong end of a deflating 5-1 Tri-County Athletic League contest in Gilroy, after being winners of their last four.
“Emotionally, I don’t think we were at our best today, which is frustrating,” Gilroy manager Clint Wheeler said. “I think you gotta walk out here with intensity, you gotta focus on every pitch.
“If you can’t get up mentally and physically for a game like this, you’re playing the wrong sport.”
One player who was more than capable of rising to the challenge was Cowboys pitcher David Holland. The Salinas side-armer had four strikeouts in six innings of work, allowing only four hits and one run. Gilroy’s lone tally on the scoreboard – which, somewhat ominously, wasn’t working during the game – came in the bottom of the seventh from Roberto Celestino, who walked before touching home plate on a Danny Contreras ground-out three batters later.
“[Holland] hides his ball real well and coming from a different angle, you don’t see a whole lot of that,” Salinas manager Art Hunsdorfer said.
“My fastball was pretty much what was working,” Holland said, adding that run support helped his confidence grow over the course of the game.
Gilroy’s pitching wasn’t too shabby, either. Taylor Chris tossed five innings and had five strikeouts, giving up only two runs entering the top of the sixth. But by the time he gave way to reliever James Lafuente, runners stood on first and third with no outs. Two wild pitches that got by catcher Lukas Fortino and a sacrifice fly left the Mustangs in a 5-0 hole entering the final frame.
Salinas, which is now 19-7 overall, 10-4 in the TCAL, had four hits to Gilroy’s three. The Cowboys scored one run in the first inning and one in the fourth off a Nick White home run.
“Right now, we’re working real hard to get a high seed in the playoffs,” Hunsdorfer said. “[Gilroy] give(s) us fits in this place and their well coached, so this is a huge win for us.”
With three games left, Gilroy – 11-15 overall, 9-6 TCAL – is still just one win away from likely making the playoffs. One huge win.
Note:
Gilroy won 13-5 at Alvarez Tuesday.
Sophomore pitchers Max Fishler and Michael Hartman combined to get the win and close out the game in relief, respectively.
The Mustangs were propelled by dominating performances at the plate. Charlie Duffy and Taylor Chris both recorded two RBI while Kevin Grove had five.
