Freshman starter serves up back-to-back homers in fifth frame in
Gavilan’s 11-4 home loss to West Valley
GILROY – Freshman starter Kurt Simmons had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning Tuesday when visiting rival West Valley belted back-to-back homers to end his shutout.
The Rams tried to battle back – but couldn’t match to the Vikings’ swinging bats as they fell 11-4 on their home diamond.
“I left a couple of pitches up in the zone,” said Simmons, a Gilroy HIgh graduate. “Those couple of pitches killed me.”
The Rams’ first run came in the second inning when West Valley walked freshman Brian Crane with the bases loaded to force one home.
With Simmons in control, there would then be no scoring until the top of the fifth inning. After giving up the two dingers, Simmons was able to end the inning – but the damage was already done. The Rams headed into the bottom of the fifth down by three.
In the fifth, Gavilan was unable to take advantage of Richie Rodriguez’s lead-off walk, stranding him at first base.
Simmons allowed another run in the sixth inning – making the score 5-1 in West Valley’s favor. Gavilan head coach Mike McCormick decided to make a pitching change, bringing in freshman reliever Josh Beckenall.
Things didn’t get any better for the Rams though, as Beckenall gave up six runs – three of those due to a three-run homer.
The bottom of the sixth inning seemed to be going Gavilan’s way as the Rams scored three runs. Unfortunately, that was all the offense Gavilan could muster. They left batters stranded in both the eighth and ninth innings.
“We played hard,” McCormich said. “Early on, we had some opportunities to score some runs… (but it) didn’t happen.”
Gavilan will travel to Monterey Peninsula College next in a May 1 road game at 2:30 p.m. and then host Chabot on May 5 at noon.
