Gilroy’s baseball team will find out plenty about itself this
week. Not only are the Mustangs scheduled to play games in two
tournaments the next five days, it’s possible they could face three
defending Central Coast Section champions.
Gilroy’s baseball team will find out plenty about itself this week.
Not only are the Mustangs scheduled to play games in two tournaments the next five days, it’s possible they could face three defending Central Coast Section champions.
After dropping an 8-4 decision Saturday to unbeaten St. Francis in the Los Gatos Lions Tournament, Gilroy is now 2-1 for the season.
The Mustangs jumped on the Lancers (4-0) for three first-inning runs, highlighted by Charlie Duffy’s two-run double. St. Francis continued the offensive pressure all game, collecting 10 hits. But Gilroy pitching kept the Lancers at bay until a four-run seventh inning broke a 4-4 tie.
Lukas Fortino, who had a solo home run in the fifth, and Tyler Osborne each collected two hits for the Mustangs.
“We were tied 4-4 against one of the best teams around, so that’s great,” GHS coach Clint Wheeler said. “I think we had a little trouble dealing with the pressure. It’s a good thing to have it early so they get used to it.”
A day earlier, the Mustangs pounded out 15 hits in a 17-2 win over Homestead in an opening-round game of the Los Gatos Tournament.
“They threw a lot of off-speed stuff and we hit the ball the other way,” Wheeler said. “It was a very solid effort. I was happy with our approach.”
Duffy homered and Gilroy collected three triples. Michael Stevens had four hits and five RBIs. Danny Contreras had three hits, including a triple and double, and scored three runs. Fortino had two hits.
Osborne went five innings to pick up the win, allowing three hits and one run.
The road gets a lot rougher. Gilroy faces defending CCS Division 1 champion Bellarmine Prep at 3pm today in the Los Gatos tournament. The Mustangs will face Division III powerhouse Carmel later in the week in the Carmel Invitational Tournament. Depending on how things break in Los Gatos, Gilroy could meet the Division II champ Wildcats on Wednesday.
“We have a tough preseason, which I like,” Wheeler said. “Through our first three games I’ve been pleased. We have played solid defense, pitched well for the most part and have hit the ball well.”
