By Ana Patejdl Staff Writer
Gilroy – Gilroy baseball coach Clint Wheeler was a little
worried before the Mustangs’ makeup game against Watsonville
Saturday.
By Ana Patejdl Staff Writer
Gilroy – Gilroy baseball coach Clint Wheeler was a little worried before the Mustangs’ makeup game against Watsonville Saturday.
Wheeler didn’t know how his team would perform after a super-charged week that included two victories over TCAL rival Hollister.
“My biggest concern was that we didn’t have an emotional letdown after the two wins last week,” Wheeler said.
Fortunately for Gilroy, Wheeler needn’t have fretted. The ‘Stangs (5-4/2-0) rolled over Watsonville (2-6) 8-0 thanks to some early power at the plate and a solid defensive effort.
The Mustangs took a 3-0 lead in the first inning, which was highlighted by senior Peter Mickartz’s second home run of the season. In the second, the Gilroy bats remained lively as the Mustangs scored three more runs off three hits and two walks to build a 6-0 lead.
“(Mickartz) is our No. 3 guy (in the batting order),” Wheeler said. “He’s one of the guys we look to for extra base hits.”
Behind senior starting pitcher Anthony Lucio, who allowed only three hits through five innings, Gilroy held the Wildcatz scoreless while going on to score two more runs, one in the fourth inning and one in the sixth.
In the fifth, senior left fielder Marty Sustaita made a clutch diving catch to end the inning and halt a Watsonville run-scoring threat.
“We made every play,” said Wheeler, whose defense has come together after a few yips in the first win over Hollister last Wednesday.
There will be no rest for the ‘Stangs this week. They play Palma away on Wednesday and at home on Friday. Palma (2-0 in league), along with Gilroy and Live Oak, stands atop the TCAL standings and is 7-1-1 overall.
“I hope we get the same effort (this week),” Wheeler said. “After this week, teams are going to start separating (in TCAL). … Some teams have two losses already, which puts them at a disadvantage. We’ll have a much better idea (about league) Friday at 8pm.”
Noel DeLatorre, who is 1-0 in the young TCAL season, will be on the mound against Palma Wednesday.
