GHS baseball nips Vikings, 4-3, tied for second in T-CAL
GILROY – Good teams find a way to win, and the Gilroy diamondmen did just that in Tuesday’s slim 4-3 home victory over North Salinas.
Despite striking out nine times at the plate and becoming their own worst enemy out in the field in the final two innings, the Mustangs held on behind a solid pitching performance from junior starter Anthony Lucio – who struck out five and allowed only two runs on four hits.
“Every outing, he’s always around the plate and sometimes that’s his downfall. He throws too many strikes,” said head coach Clint Wheeler of his right-hander. “But he did a great job, today.”
Lucio lasted six full innings, giving up his two runs in the sixth, before giving way to junior reliever Carlos Garcia, who came out to start the seventh frame and earned a tough save.
“We’ll take it,” said junior outfielder Marty Sustaita, who smacked a single in the second and a lead-off double in the fifth.
The victory keeps Gilroy (5-2 in T-CAL) in the thick of the league title chase, tied for second with Live Oak, which dropped a 4-2 decision to first-place Palma (6-1 in T-CAL). The Mustangs finish up their two-game set on the road against North Salinas at 3:30 p.m., while the Acorns play the Chieftains that same day.
“Nothing different,” said Wheeler in preparation for the next game. “Our ultimate goal is to get deep into the playoffs and win the league title, but we need to get tougher all around for that to happen.”
Along with Sustaita’s two-hit day, senior first baseman Ben Hemeon finished 2-for-3, belting a lead-off single in the fourth as well as a RBI double in the fifth.
“We did hit the ball well at times,” Wheeler said. “Marty was ready to hit. Him and Ben definitely came to hit, today.”
The Mustangs broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning when Hemeon singled, stole second base, went to third on a passed ball, and came around to score on a wild pitch in the dirt.
After Lucio retired the side in the top of the fifth, Gilroy went back to work with a breakout three-run rally. With runners on first and third, sophomore outfielder Josh Sterling poked a run-scoring single to short. Sophomore catcher Chris Hernandez, who reached on a walk, then scored the second run when he forced an errant throw over third base in a steal attempt.
Following a Drew Anderson walk, Hemeon crushed a RBI double down the first base line. The outfielder bobbled the ball and Hemeon advanced all the way to third base, but Anderson was gunned down at home plate, after pausing on the base paths. The inning ended with junior shortstop Peter Mickartz’s ground-out to short.
“We get them in the clutch, but we don’t follow through for the knockout,” said Sustaita, who accounted for one of Gilroy’s nine strike outs. “We actually need to stop striking out and for the outfield to hit their cuts.”
North Salinas fired back with two runs in the sixth inning, as Lucio gave up one hit, walked two batters, and the Mustangs committed a throwing error. With bases loaded and two outs, a wild pitch scored the second Vikings run to make it 4-2, but Lucio got the next batter to fly out to center.
In the top of the seventh, Garcia issued a lead-off walk before snagging a sacrifice bunt attempt out of the air for the first out. An error at third base followed by an errant throw into the outfield advanced runners to second and third for North Salinas, which cut the gap to one with a sacrifice fly. With the tying run on second base, Garcia struck out the final batter looking.
“If we come ready to play and stop making mental and physical mistakes, we’ll do just fine,” Sustaita said.
