Gilroy baseball coach Clint Wheeler says losing is acceptable as
long as he feels he’s getting an effort from his team.
Gilroy baseball coach Clint Wheeler says losing is acceptable as long as he feels he’s getting an effort from his team.
After Thursday’s 4-3 defeat to North Monterey County in the Carmel Invitational, Wheeler didn’t have that feeling.
Perhaps he had good reason. GHS pitchers walked nine batters and hit one. The Mustang 2, 3 and 4 hitters went a collective 0 for 12.
“We weren’t ready to play,” Wheeler said. “That’s what is most upsetting.”
The Condors (5-4) were ready to take what Gilroy pitchers gave. They scored three runs in the first. Their first two batters reached on a walk and hit batsman. Two runs scored on a double down the right-field line, and the third came in on a fielder’s choice, putting the Mustangs (4-6) in an immediate 3-0 hole.
Derek Engen delivered an RBI double in the fourth, but NMC got what proved to be the winning run in its half of the fourth on four walks.
Kevin Grove, who like Engen had two hits in the game, stroked an RBI double in the fourth and Danny Contreras chased in a run in the sixth, but the Mustangs left a lot of other potential runs on the bases. In the fourth, they had runners on second and third with one out and didn’t score a second run. In the fifth, they loaded the bases with one out and scored one run.
“I don’t mind losing,” Wheeler said. “At least show up and compete. It was frustrating. This game was a huge step backwards.”
Gilroy is right back in action at 4pm today when it hosts Bellarmine Prep. The Bells already own a 9-1 win over the Mustangs.
Gilroy 000 111 0 – 3
NMC 300 100 x – 4
