While some seniors may be snoozing through the final month of
school (never a good idea, guys), many are preparing for the final
games of their careers as Gilroy High athletes.
The question is, will any be closing out their careers on
top?
Here is a quick look at how each program stacks up:
While some seniors may be snoozing through the final month of school (never a good idea, guys), many are preparing for the final games of their careers as Gilroy High athletes.
The question is, will any be closing out their careers on top?
Here is a quick look at how each program stacks up:
VOLLEYBALL
The boys volleyball team finished in third place in the Tri-County Athletic League with a 10-4 record, 20-13 overall. The team has the talent to make a run in the Central Coast Section’s Division I tournament, but that will all depend on how the Mustangs fare in their home game tonight at 7 p.m. against Monta Vista (16-13). The winner will play at Homestead (28-5) on Thursday.
Coach Sue Grogan has been fiddling with lineups recently to see if she can get anything more out of her players, but has found that relying on her original starting six is the team’s best bet to win. After playing in several prestigious tournaments this season, the Mustangs should feel comfortable knowing they have faced, and hung tough, with the area’s best.
BASEBALL
This season has been perplexing to say the least. The Mustangs (11-16) have rolled off several winning streaks but they have come after severe droughts, such as a nine-game skid in the middle of the schedule. Coach Clint Wheeler believes his team will need at least one more win, maybe two, to qualify for the CCS playoffs. The two games left on the schedule are today at 4 p.m., when Gilroy hosts San Benito, and a Thursday contest at Alisal.
“Any time you come down to the last two games and one is Hollister, you’re definitely excited – especially the seniors,” Wheeler said.
The pressure to win will be great, but as Wheeler has said before, if you don’t embrace it, you’re playing the wrong game.
SOFTBALL
The Mustangs (18-7, 6-4 TCAL) wanted a league title, but San Benito and Notre Dame made that an impossibility. Still, Gilroy has all the talent necessary to make an extended run in the postseason. Two players the team has relied on heavily throughout the year are a freshman (Sarah Lira) and a senior (Jasmine Perez). Lira has been phenomenal in her first year, batting .400 with five home runs and 12 RBI. Perez has been equally brilliant, hitting .415 to go with three home runs and three triples.
Since the rest of the batting order has been less consistent, pitching will most likely decide the Mustangs’ fate, as is usually the case with softball. Melinda Ortiz has been excellent in recent outings and will need to continue to carry the defense.
SWIMMING
Of all the Bay Area spring sports, swimming may be the most competitive when it comes to CCS. Times aren’t just good on the high school level, they’re good on a national level. Coach Tom Clark has liked the improvement he’s seen over the course of the season, but said a consolation title would be about as good as it gets. The most likely placers would be by the 200 medley relay team of Jacob Abruzzini, David Pribyl, Eddie Malick and Daniel Shields.
GOLF
Gilroy couldn’t make the CCS cut as a team, but Jonathan Higgins could make some noise for the Mustangs as he tees off today at 8 a.m. at Rancho Canada Golf Club in Carmel.
TRACK
Coach Jeff Myers won’t say any one of his athletes is a favorite to win an individual CCS title, but he does believe he has top-five talent. Peter Guenther has a chance in the 110 High Hurdles and the 100-meter dash, Travis Reyes could do well in the 200, Kathleen Miller is always strong in the 3200 and Sarah Unadia is on the verge of breaking her personal record of 5-2 in the high jump.
Myers did say that his 4×100 relay team could surprise some folks when the CCS championships are held May 23 in Gilroy.
