Gilroy softball couldn’t’ sustain the firepower it showed at the
plate two days prior to Thursday’s meeting with Notre Dame in
Salinas, resulting in a 3-1 loss the first for the Mustangs in
Tri-County Athletic League play.
SALINAS – Gilroy softball couldn’t’ sustain the firepower it showed at the plate two days prior to Thursday’s meeting with Notre Dame in Salinas, resulting in a 3-1 loss the first for the Mustangs in Tri-County Athletic League play.
Notre Dame scored once in the first inning and added two more runs in the fourth, while the Mustangs had plenty of opportunities to rally but were limited to one run in the sixth.
“They were a challenge, but I think we played with them,” Gilroy coach Catherine Hallada said. “We were definitely in it the whole game – just not enough hits to score the runs.”
Sam Parraz took the loss for the Mustangs, pitching a complete game. She struck out two batters, walked and hit one by a pitch allowed three earned runs. Gilroy’s lone score of the game came on a fielder’s choice that plated Emily Castro on a Melanie Morelos grounder to second.
The offensive performance by GHS was nearly the exact opposite of what occurred Tuesday, when the Mustangs won their TCAL opener 15-0 over the visiting Alvarez Eagles.
Ashley Harrington pitched a one-hit shutout with four strikeouts, helping Gilroy enforce the mercy rule and have the game stopped after five frames.
The Mustangs’ bats started strong from the start, as Alyssa Castro led off with a triple, Jasmine Perez followed with a walk and Emily Castro gave Gilroy its first lead by hitting a three-run home run.
“It was a beautiful hit,” Hallada said of Castro’s crush.
“Everyone hit very well. I think everyone had at least one or two hits.”
The Mustangs had 16 hits total, with Emily and Alyssa Castro both totaling three hits, and Dani Hemeon, Lindsay Holt and Morelos each going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Casey Lester and Kristy Pineda both went 1-for-2 with an RBI, Sarah Lira was 1-for-1 (RBI) and Stephanie Rodriguez was 1-for-3.
At 5-5-1 overall, 1-1 in league, Gilroy will still have plenty of opportunities to capture its first TCAL title.
Despite a somewhat slow start to the preseason, Hallada said after Tuesday’s game she thinks her club will be right in the thick of things by the end of league play.
“I think we’re going to be pretty successful,” she said. “I have a lot of confidence in this team. We have a lot of great hitters.
“As long as we keep hitting we’ll definitely be giving Hollister and Notre Dame a run for their money.”
The Mustangs will be back on the field today at 3:45 p.m. to host Archbishop Mitty.
