GILROY – Senior Alissa Castro surrendered just one hit in a
complete game performance as the Lady Mustangs softball team
blanked Tri-County Athletic League opponent Alvarez 5-0 on Tuesday
in Gilroy.
GILROY – Senior Alissa Castro surrendered just one hit in a complete game performance as the Lady Mustangs softball team blanked Tri-County Athletic League opponent Alvarez 5-0 on Tuesday in Gilroy.
“It was a great win and a win we needed to have,” manager Julie Berggren said. “These are teams that can come back and bite you if you’re not careful. We just tried to stay on top the whole game.”
The Eagles lone hit off of Castro came in the first inning, and the senior efficiently worked her way through the lineup only allowing one other base runner, retiring 16 straight batters over the final 5.1 innings.
“When I’m on the mound I totally have the entire team supporting me,” Castro said. “We all have the same mindset; we just want to win. I know that all I have to do is throw strikes and my defense is going to back me up.”
With Castro keeping the Eagles at bay, the Lady Mustangs began to peck away at the scoreboard with a business-like approach; a run here, a run there.
Gilroy (9-3, 3-0 TCAL) jumped out 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning with Castro, who led off the game with a walk, and Dani Hemeon, who singled, each scoring on passed balls.
Hemeon, who finished 3-for-3 at the plate, added a run in the bottom of the third, leading the inning off with a triple and scoring on an RBI-fielder’s choice by Michelle Sosa.
“I’ve been in a little slump lately but it felt good just to finally hit the ball hard somewhere,” Hemeon said. “I didn’t care if they had caught it. Just to hit the ball hard was nice.”
Elaina Vasquez doubled and scored in the fourth to make it 4-0, and Melanie Morelos drove in Hemeon in the fifth for the Lady Mustangs’ final run of the contest.
“I’m very happy with where we are at right now,” Berggren said. “We are playing really well together and they are having a great time too.”
The Lady Mustangs continue league play next Thursday, April 8 against defending TCAL champ Notre Dame in Salinas. The Spirits ( 10-3, 2-1 TCAL) handed the Lady Mustangs a difficult 2-1 defeat during the Annie Lynch Memorial Circle of Champions Tournament back on March 20.
The two teams split the season series a year ago, with each victorious on its home fields.
“If we play how we know we can, swing at the pitches we need to swing at and tighten up the little things, I think we can beat them,” Castro said.
