Gilroy didn’t get caught looking ahead Tuesday. It might have
been human nature to be thinking about San Benito and Thursday’s
crucial Tri-County Athletic League game.
Gilroy didn’t get caught looking ahead Tuesday.
It might have been human nature to be thinking about San Benito and Thursday’s crucial Tri-County Athletic League game. And yet, a fast start by the Mustangs and Kylie Herrada’s lusty hitting lifted Gilroy to an 8-0 TCAL win over host North Salinas.
“We hit the ball pretty well,” GHS coach Catherine Hallada said. “Kylie was like a second leadoff hitter basically.”
Herrada, the junior shortstop hitting out of the 2-hole, was 5 for 5 with an RBI and run scored to lead a 13-hit offense that spurred the Mustangs to their fourth straight win.
Meanwhile, winning pitcher Melinda Ortiz and Patty Olvera combined on a two-hitter with four strikeouts and one walk.
Gilroy (21-6 overall, 6-3 TCAL) had North Salinas playing from behind from the start as the Mustangs scored three first-inning runs. Herrada singled, and Amanda Tellez and Jasmine Perez had doubles to key Gilroy’s fast start.
“In the first inning we came out hitting,” Hallada said. “We hit a couple of balls over the head of their outfielders so they adjusted and started playing us deeper. The rest of our hits were mainly hard grounders and line drives.”
Gilroy not only collected 13 hits but drew five walks and reached base on three errors. Tellez had two hits, two RBIs and two runs. Lauryn Chris reached base three times with two hits and a walk. Perez had two hits. Olvera had a triple and RBI, and Yolanda Esquival scored twice.
That sets the Mustangs up for their showdown 4:30pm Thursday with TCAL-leading San Benito.
“We got the job done that needed to be done,” Hallada said. “Now we need to have a good, hard practice (today) to get ready for San Benito. We’re pretty excited about having them at our field. Hopefully, we can play our best game against them.”
Gilroy 301 002 2 – 8 13 1
North Salinas 000 000 0 – 0 2 3
Ortiz, Olvera (6) and Pierotti; Klug and Gresham. W-Ortiz. 2B-GIL, Tellez, Perez. 3B-GIL, Olvera.
