Heading into the final week of the Tri-County Athletic League slate, the Gilroy High softball team needed to win at least one of its remaining games to finish at least .500 and postseason eligible. The Mustangs decided to get that victory out of the way Tuesday.
Talking the GHS field for the final time in the regular season, the Mustangs defeated North Salinas 5-3 on Senior Day in Gilroy.
Seniors Casey Lester, Shawnte Garcia, Vanessa Tellez and Ashlee Williams were honored by all in attendance for their service to the GHS softball program.
Lester, who is headed to La Salle in the fall, went 2-for-3 with two runs, Kaylana Mah, Amber Gamboa and Tellez had a RBI each, and Holly Lam went the distance in the circle.
Gilroy (12-11 overall, 6-5 TCAL) wraps up the season at Salinas High on Thursday, and will await its Central Coast Section playoff fate, which will be decided Saturday.
TRACK AND FIELD
After posting a 6-0 record in regular season Monterey Bay League dual meets, head coach Jeff Myers and the Christopher High girls track and field team knew the objective at Tuesday’s MBL trials was qualifying as many athletes to Friday’s finals to give themselves the best chance at holding off second-place North Monterey County.
The Cougars will send 12 varsity girls in eight different events to Friday’s finals at Watsonville High.
Finalists: Ally Foster (100 hurdles, triple jump, long jump); Haylee Peterson (100 hurdles); Claudia Ferreira (100 hurdles); Carly McPolin (100, 200), Olivia Baxter (100, 200); Maddie Peterson (discus, shot put); Kaelin Sylva (long jump, pole vault); Katherine Bright (triple jump); Lili Nguyen (pole vault); Vivi Nguyen (pole vault) Bridget Brown (100 hurdles); Nadine Filippi (100 hurdles.)
On the boys’ side, Marty Ettema is into the finals in both the 110 and 300 hurdles. Jeremiah Ofiana (300 hurdles) and Brandon Porria (high jump) also qualified.
Gilroy High track and field athletes participated in the Tri-County Athletic League trials at North Salinas on Tuesday, looking to lock up top-nine times and marks in order to qualify for Friday’s league finals where a CCS berth is at stake.
Ten varsity Mustangs made the cut Tuesday and will advance to the finals, which are hosted at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.
Among the qualifiers, four – Chelsey Kalata, Samantha Una Dia, Jourdan Soares and Scott Vogel – will compete in two events. Soares bested his own school record in the 200-meter dash Tuesday, clocking a 22.09 second race.
Finalists: Chelsey Kalata (100, 200); Allita Watkins (400); Savannah Silacci (800); Samantha Una Dia (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles); Sarina Sandoval (shot put); Jourdan Soares (100, 200); Enrique Villanueva (2:04.69); Billy McDonald (shot put); Scott Vogel (shot put, discus); Luis Magana (pole vault.)
VOLLEYBALL
Gilroy High’s postseason presence was short lived as No. 9 Eastside College Prep upended the No.8 Mustangs in three sets (25-20, 25-20, 25-21) in a Central Coast Section Division II first round match Tuesday night in Palo Alto.
Gilroy finishes the season at 20-14 overall. Eastside Prep plays No. 1 Mount Madonna on Thursday.
LACROSSE
Christopher High fell 14-4 to Pacific Grove in the first round of the Mission Trail Athletic League postseason tournament Tuesday.
