Gilroy softball has continued to play loose since the slate was
wiped clean to start the playoffs.
Taking on top-seeded Carlmont in the Central Coast Section
quarterfinals Saturday in Redwood City, the eighth-seeded Mustangs
scored their biggest victory of the season with a 5-3 upset.
REDWOOD CITY – Gilroy softball has continued to play loose since the slate was wiped clean to start the playoffs.
Taking on top-seeded Carlmont in the Central Coast Section quarterfinals Saturday in Redwood City, the eighth-seeded Mustangs scored their biggest victory of the season with a 5-3 upset.
Scoring two runs in the first inning and three in the third, Gilroy led the entire game as sophomore pitcher Sam Parraz recorded two strikeouts on her way to a second complete-game victory in CCS this postseason.
The Mustangs had 11 hits in total, with Jasmine Perez going 2-for-4 and Sarah Lira batting a perfect 3-for-3. Dani Hemeon and Lira both had two RBI for Gilroy, while Melanie Morelos had one.
Gilroy (15-12-1) will now face fellow Tri-County Athletic League member North Salinas (18-7), seeded fourth, in a semifinal game being played today at 4:30 p.m. at PAL Stadium in San Jose.
Gilroy lost the first meeting with North Salinas 4-1 before winning the second contest 4-2. Both times the away team emerged victorious.
“Obviously, [North Salinas is] on a streak to by advancing, but our confidence of being able to knock off a top seed is going to help us move on to the next round,” Gilroy coach Catherine Hallada said.
“I think we match up pretty well with them, but I think we’re a better team all in all.”
If Gilroy is able to win today’s game, the Mustangs would be playing in their second straight Central Coast Section championship game and would face either Wilcox or San Benito. Last season, Gilroy lost to San Benito 8-3 in the final.
“That’s our goal” Hallada said, “to go one more step further than last year.”
“We’re going one game at a time. We got to worry about North Salinas, who we split with, so it’s anyone’s game. Of course, San Benito is in the back our heads.”
