Gilroy Little League Softball Majors All-Stars defend NorCal
title, earn return trip to West Regional
Concord – Pack your bags, reserve a hotel room and buy your airplane ticket.
The Gilroy Little League Softball Majors All-Star team is heading back to the West Regional.
Wednesday, Gilroy held off Consumnes River Little League 5-3 to re-capture the Northern California Little League Softball Championship. Now, the team immediately heads to Vancouver, Wash. to try to defend its West Regional title and qualify for its second consecutive Little League Softball World Series.
And the team couldn’t be more excited to head to what many of the team’s veterans considered the best part of last year’s World Series run.
“We know what’s coming ahead,” said returnee Dani Hemeon (1-for-3) after the championship game in Concord.
Gilroy will play the Montana representative in its first West Regional game Sunday at 6pm in Washington.
After scoring in the double-digits in each of the three wins over previous opponents at the Northern California playoffs, Gilroy received a reality check against Consumnes River. The visiting Gilroy All-Stars held a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom half of the sixth and final inning, but Consumnes River sparked a two-run, two-out rally to put the pressure on the defending champs.
In that stanza, a Gilroy fielding error allowed Consumnes River to score its first run since the top of the first inning.
Then Gilroy pitcher Stephanie Rodriquez (7 hits, 5 K’s, 2 walks in 4 inn.) walked the next batter to load the bases. Consumnes River made it 5-3 on a fielder’s choice chopper to short.
But Rodriquez, who also belted a triple down the third base line in the third inning, dug deep and struck out the next batter to seal the game and the championship.
“When they started to score, I got a little more nervous,” said rookie Nicole Lara, who went 2-for-2 in the game.
However, the players were also glad to be put in the tight position before heading on to the tough West Regional.
“It helped us,” said first baseman Sam Parraz, who broke out of a hitting slump with a 2-for-3 effort that included two doubles. “Now we know what competition is going to be up next.”
Consumnes River outhit Gilroy 10-8. But the Garlic Girls took advantage of some judgment errors to push runs across the plate.
In the third inning, for example, Parraz hit her second double and drove in center fielder Casey Lester (fielder’s choice) from second.
The hit also put second baseman Michelle Sosa, who was on first after a walk, in motion on the basepaths. But Sosa looked like she would be thrown out after over-running second base.
However, the pick-off throw from Consumnes River’s third baseman to second flew into center field and Sosa ended up scoring, pushing Gilroy’s lead to 3-1.
“We made some errors, but we made up for them,” Sosa said.
Gilroy manager Gene “Pops” Carlisle was happy to see the team bounce back and defend the its NorCal title.
“They came through on it,” he said. “They showed a toughness that they haven’t had to show up to now.”
After the game, the team spoke of the hope of making back-to-back appearances at the World Series.
“It’s our goal to get there,” Lester said. “And if we get there, we’ll go from there.”
Starting pitcher Sarah Spindel allowed three hits, had two strikeouts and walked one in two innings of work. Third baseman Amanda Poso and outfielder Sarina Sandoval went 1-for-1 at the plate.
Minors Win For Second Chance at NorCal Title
The Gilroy Little League Softball Minors All-Stars took one from Martinez. Now they need another win to seal a Northern California State Championship.
Gilroy, which defeated Cottonwood Tuesday to advance to the two-game championship series, defeated Martinez 8-6 Wednesday. It was Martinez’s first loss of the double elimination tournament.
Adrianna Ortega (2-for-3, single, double, 4 RBI) roped a double in the late innings to give Gilroy the lead. The team trailed Martinez 2-0 after two innings before turning it around.
Holly Lam (1-for-2, double) and Kirsten Dennis (3 walks, double, RBI) also contributed to Gilroy’s offense.
Winning pitcher Angelica Carrillo threw a complete game, fanning 13 batters and walking four.
Raeanna Estrada will be on the mound for the second championship game today at 6pm at Hidden Lakes Park in Martinez.
Against Cottonwood Tuesday, Gilroy jumped out to a 7-1 lead after a six-run second inning. Cottonwood clawed its way back, but Gilroy was able to hold on for the 8-7 win.
Carrillo (2-for-2, double, triple, 3 RBI), Ortega (2-for-3, 2 singles, RBI), Cristyn Simpson (2-for-2, single) and Kayla Roelling (1-for-1, single, RBI) led Gilroy’s offensive attack.
