Simmons pitches complete game for first win in 5-3 nod over
Mission
SANTA CLARA – After losing two straight one-run ball games, the Gavilan College baseball team finally crossed over to the winning side with a garlic-backed boost in Thursday’s tight 5-3 victory over Mission College.
Sophomore pitcher Kurt Simmons notched his first win of the season, the team’s second overall, with a complete-game, six-hitter. The Gilroy High product fanned eight batters and allowed only three earned runs.
“I was happy for him because he’s worked so hard and being the lone sophomore on the staff, it was good for him to get the win,” said first-year skipper Neal Andrade of his tall, lengthy right-hander. “Hopefully, he’ll have some more good outings his last four, five starts of the year and finish strong.”
Simmons needed some help with the Rams trailing 3-2 heading into the top of the ninth inning, and he got it from his old Gilroy High teammate Rocco Costanza – who got the rally going with a run-scoring double to follow up Steve Gonzalez’s one-out double.
After sophomore second baseman Josh Becknall worked a base-on-balls and both runners advanced on a ball in the dirt, freshman Michael Green was intentionally walked to load the bases up for sophomore Adam Beardon, who was getting his first start in a couple of games. Beardon welcomed the opportunity with the game-winning single to score both Costanza and Becknall.
“Today, he got it done in the end with a big hit, and that’s what we’ve been lacking in last couple of games,” Andrade said. “His was big, not only because it gave us the lead, but it gave us some padding going up by two.”
Simmons stepped back on the mound, eyeing a complete game and his first win. After issuing a one-out walk, Simmons struck out the next batter, but then gave up a two-out single to put runners at the corners. The second-year player sealed it with a ground out to Becknall at second base.
“Finally,” said Andrade, whose squad is 2-8 in Coast Conference play this season. “We’re just right there. For the most part all year, we’re competing in these games, especially in conference.”
On Saturday, freshman left-hander Todd Gimenez, another Gilroy High product, “pitched a great game” in a 5-4 loss to Chabot in 11 innings. Two days ago, starter freshman Matt Garcia was strong on the hill for Gavilan, which watched a 4-2 lead evaporate into a heart-breaking 5-4 loss at the hands of Ohlone.
“We’re right in these games. We just can’t get that big hit or key out to seal it, but it happened today, fortunately,” Andrade said. “Every single game, it’s been no more than a two-run game. We’ve been just on the edge of getting it done.”
While his team has not been catching any breaks this season, Andrade said the Rams, although he wants them to take it one game at a time, are still not out of the conference race with 15 games remaining of the schedule.
“Even with our record not being where we want it to be, there is still no let-up in the guys. They are still working hard for me. We’re barely just half way with season,” Andrade said. “We didn’t have a good start, but we still have some stuff to play for.”
Up next, Gavilan will host Skyline College on Saturday at noon.
“All it takes is one more to get a little streak going,” Andrade said. “They deserve it.”
The Rams played in a steady rain against Mission, but got a gutsy performance on the hill and some timely hitting to pull off the win.
“(Simmons) needed this. This was his first win, but he’s pitched good enough to win other games, but there was no offense to help him. Today, he battled,” Andrade said.
“It was kind of ugly out there. It rained for most of the game. Fortunately, he had enough to be able to put that aside and get the job done.”
