Gilroy
– Assistant softball coach Arnold Tellez had a hunch Tuesday
that he shared with head coach Catherine Hallada.
”
If Yoli (Yolanda Esquivel) gets on base, we win,
”
Tellez said to Hallada.
Gilroy – Assistant softball coach Arnold Tellez had a hunch Tuesday that he shared with head coach Catherine Hallada.
“If Yoli (Yolanda Esquivel) gets on base, we win,” Tellez said to Hallada.
Esquivel did her part, slapping a single to start the sixth. Everything else fell into place for Gilroy as it scored four runs in the inning to break open a tie game and gain a 5-1 Tri-County Athletic League win over Notre Dame.
“Once I get two strikes, I’m trying to protect the plate and make contact,” said Esquivel, the No. 9 hitter whose hit found a hole between first and second. “We have a strong rest of the lineup behind me. Something is definitely going to happen with all the really good speed we have.”
It was that speed that pressured the Spirits (20-5 overall, 6-2 TCAL), who entered the game tied for first with San Benito. Lauryn Chris put down a sacrifice bunt and reached base on the first of three Notre Dame errors in the sixth. Kylie Herrada got her second sacrifice bunt of the game and Amanda Tellez was safe on an error as the runners held, loading the bases.
Jasmine Perez’s grounder to second chased in the first run of the inning and the Mustangs’ leader in RBIs was safe on an error. A second run scored on the play as Perez moved up giving Gilroy runners at second and third. Caitlyn Pierotti’s two-run single broke it open.
The four unearned runs ruined a solid performance by Spirits’ sophomore Sarah Solis, who allowed just four hits. The only earned run off her came in the first when Chris singled, moved to second on Herrada’s sacrifice bunt, to third on Tellez’s ground out and scored on a wild pitch.
“She pitched a great game and didn’t deserve to lose,” Notre Dame coach Joe Given said. “We did a good job behind her until it all fell apart in one inning. It’s been like that the last three games. We’ve been struggling. For the most part, this has been a really resilient group that has overcome injuries.”
Meanwhile, Patty Olvera pitched a five-hitter for the Mustangs (20-7, 5-3) with only one strikeout. Olvera is at her best when she is getting calls on the inside corner, but that wasn’t happening Tuesday. And yet, she was able to get 14 ground ball outs.
“She did a great job again,” Hallada said.
The run Olvera allowed was unearned. In the second, Ashley Madison got a one-out singled and moved to second on a ground out. Tiffany Meeks hit an infield single that was thrown away for an error as Madison scored.
After that, Solis and Olvera took charge in a game that was a must-win for the Mustangs. Hallada had a sense Gilroy would be ready for this game after what she termed an excellent practice Monday.
“The girls knew about it (the sense of urgency),” Hallada said. “They were pumped up at practice. (Monday’s) practice said a lot. It (league) is open now. We’re still fighting.”
Gilroy gets a week off before going to North Salinas for a 4:30pm game May 1.
Notre Dame 010 000 0 – 1 5 3
Gilroy 100 004 x – 5 4 2
Solis and Kim; Olvera and Balanesi. 2B-ND, Harvey.
