Mickartz, Gimenez combine efforts on the mound in 3-2
extra-inning win over ‘Boys
GILROY – Some solid fielding and gutsy pitching propelled the Gilroy High baseball team to a much-deserved 3-2 home victory over visiting Salinas in Wednesday’s Tri-County Athletic League action.
Sophomore right-hander Peter Mickartz started the game and pitched into the sixth inning – giving up seven hits and two walks, while striking out three batters.
After Mickartz was dinged for a long ball int he sixth, senior southpaw Todd Gimenez stepped on the hill and closed the door on the Cowboys for his first win of the season.
Sophomore shortstop Jordan Newton went 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of lead-off singles that generated runs in the fifth and seventh innings for the Mustangs.
Newton came around to score after his base knock in the fifth frame on a Ruben Chavez RBI single that tied the game up.
Following a Salinas homer that gave the Cowboys a brief lead and brought Gimenez in for Mickartz, the Mustangs were once again ignited by a Newton lead-off hit in the seventh frame. Newton worked his way to second base and eventually came home when a ball four to senior outfielder John Kirkish got past the catcher to tie things again.
In the first extra frame, Gimenez did his job on the hill – shutting the Cowboy bats down – and then Gimenez did it with his bat (1-for-3, walk) – belting a double. Senior Ron Colmon came in to pinch run and was bunted over to third by senior Eric Gonzalez. Colmon scored on a wild pitch when the throw back to third went into the outfield.
In the fourth frame, Kirkish made a run-stopping throw from the outfield that made its way to freshman catcher Chris Hernandez at home plate for the third out. The Mustang defense made only two errors all game and did not allow themselves to give the game away.
On deck, the Mustang diamondmen will play host Saturday to rival Hollister at 1 p.m.
