Despite 6-3 loss to Palma, Mustang diamondmen in hunt with key
series vs. Vikings up next
SALINAS – The chase for the Tri-County Athletic League title is already a tight one between the top three teams after only six league games, and the Mustang diamondmen are in the thick of it.
Following Saturday’s 6-3 road loss to Palma, the Mustangs dropped into third place at 4-2 in T-CAL, but are still just one game behind league-leading Palma (5-1) and Live Oak (5-1).
“I’m definitely not upset with where we’re at. I like the situation we’re in,” said Mustang skipper Clint Wheeler, whose squad is 9-3 overall. “If we take care of business this week, worst case scenario, we’re in a three-way tie for first because I think Live Oak and Palma will split.”
While the Acorns and Chieftains open their two-game on Tuesday in Salinas and then Thursday in Morgan Hill, the Mustangs are looking for the sweep in their two-game series against last-place North Salinas (0-5), starting at home on Tuesday at 3:45 p.m.
“Every game is important,” Wheeler said. “It’s important now especially since we can possibly come out in a three-way tie for first. “Every game in this league means everything. The winner and second are only going to be separated by one win.”
Junior right-hander Anthony Lucio is expected to get the start in Tuesday’s opener against the Vikings, and then junior ace Peter Mickartz gets back on the hill on Thursday, following a disappointing performance in Saturday’s loss to Palma.
“He struggled through all five. His control was off and on. He would get two outs really quick with just some nasty pitches and then for some reason, he would lose control,” said Wheeler of Mickartz. “He showed glimpses of what he did before, but he struggled to be consistent.”
Mickartz pitched five innings, allowing all six Palma runs in the losing effort. The Mustang bats did not help much, striking out looking a season-high seven times against three Chieftain arms.
“We didn’t do a very good job at the plate. … We kind of pride ourselves on battling and we didn’t battle too much,” Wheeler said. “This was the first time we rolled over like that. Most of the time we’re fighting and clawing, but for some reason we were guessing at plate and taking some pitches.”
Gilroy – which was ranked No. 10 in the Central Coast Section prior to Saturday’s loss – fell behind 2-0 in the second inning when Mickartz gave up a two-run homer. But the Mustangs battled back with two runs of their own in the top of the third.
“When we scored our two runs, we had them on ropes,” Wheeler said. “The guys just didn’t go for that knockout blow.”
With the score tied and runners on second and third, two consecutive Mustangs struck out looking to cut the rally short.
“That took the wind out of our sails,” Wheeler said. “We had a chance.”
The hard-hitting Chieftains responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third to re-claim a two-run lead, one that they would never relinquish. Palma extended to a four-run advantage before the Mustangs added a late run.
“Those guys, they believe in themselves offensively,” said Wheeler of Palma. “They know they can hit. They definitely come out swinging.”
The Mustangs had won the first game of the series with a thrilling 11-10 come-from-behind victory on Wednesday, but could not match Palma’s firepower over the weekend.
“We’ve got to manufacture runs and put more together,” Wheeler said. “They definitely have a lot more power than we do.”
Mark Gonzalez and Marty Sustaita hit back-to-back doubles in Gilroy’s two-run second inning.
