Gilroy finds itself one more miracle short in opening game loss
to South at Little League World Series
Portland – To make yet another thrilling comeback to win was just too much to ask.
In their first game of the Little League Softball World Series, the Gilroy All-Stars made some key comebacks, once in the second inning and again in the sixth, before succumbing to McLean, Va., representing the South, by a score of 12-11 in eight innings.
“It’s another tough one,” said Gilroy manager Dennis Castro after his team’s opening game at Portland’s Alpenrose Stadium. Gilroy, representing the West, also lost their opener in the Western Regional in Vancouver, Wash. last week, before going undefeated the rest of the way to earn a berth in Portland.
Going into the sixth and final inning down 11-9, third baseman Brenna O’Neill got Gilroy going with a double to right field. Following O’Neill was outfielder Elaina Vasquez (2-for-3, RBI), who sent an 0-2 pitch to center field for a single, which moved O’Neill to third. Next, starting pitcher Sam Parraz (3-for-4, RBI) belted a single to left, scoring O’Neill and bringing Gilroy to within 11-10.
After battling with McLean pitcher Jilly Falle and fouling off several pitches, outfielder Stephanie Rodriquez sent a grounder back at her. Instead of going for the play at first for the second out, Falle made a bad throw to third. Vasquez took advantage of the error and crossed the plate to tie the game at 11-11.
But in the top of the eighth inning, it was a Gilroy error that allowed McLean to score the go-ahead run. McLean’s Falle blasted a hard grounder to shortstop Allisa Castro’s right. Castro made the tough backhanded play, but overthrew the ball to first and McLean’s Katalina Khoury raced home from third to score what would prove to be the game-winner.
Dennis Castro was pleased that his team battled to the end, but was also disappointed in the five errors it committed.
“I feel like we gave them the game by making errors, bad throws and bad decisions,” he said.
But the former minor leaguer with the Florida Marlins added, “My problem is I still have the mindset of the pro level where you don’t make those errors. I’ve got to keep reminding myself that this is Little League.”
Gilroy, which appeared very calm in its first appearance on the World Series field, had to fight out of a hole in the early going. After an inning and a half of play, McLean, which finished second in the last year’s World Series, had rattled off six hits to take a 4-1 lead.
Parraz, who went all eight innings on the mound, settled down after McLean’s first two turns at the plate.
“Everything was scary,” said the pitcher of the beginning of the game.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Garlic City team’s offense brought it back, as it has many times during the All-Star season.
Marisa Gamboa, back playing with the team after missing the West Regional to visit family, ripped a shot down the first base line to score Melanie Morelos (single) to close the gap to 4-2 and ignite the Gilroy rally. Parraz then drove in O’Neill, who had reached on a fielder’s choice, to make it 4-3. Dani Hemeon made it all even at 4-4 when she swiped home plate after McLean catcher Sophie Giaquinto threw the ball into center field while trying to catch Parraz stealing second.
The four remaining runs scored during the inning were driven in by Castro (double, 2-for-5, 2 RBI), Sosa (single), Adrianna Osuna (single, 2-for-5) and Morelos (2-for-5). At the end of the inning, Gilroy had an 8-4 lead.
Unfortunately, an error-plagued fifth inning for Gilroy would let McLean back in the door. The South representatives took the 11-9 lead before Gilroy’s sixth inning comeback.
“This is the same team (that’s made it to the World Series). They battled to the end and never stopped trying to come back,” Dennis Castro said. “They played great, but that was our game.”
Gilroy continues pool play tomorrow with a 12:30pm game against Asia Pacific.
BoxScore
McLean, Va. 311 060 01 12 17 5
Gilroy 171 002 00 11 15 5
WP: Jilly Falle — 6 runs, 2 walks, 5 K’s in eight innings pitched.
LP: Sam Parraz — 12 runs, 5 walks, 5 K’s in eight innings pitched.
News & Notes
Word of Gilroy’s first-ever trip to the Little League World Series even reached the state capital in Sacramento. Governor Arnold Schwarzennegger sent a personal note to the team, congratulating the All-Stars on their 10-inning win in the West Regional finals that earned them the bid to the World Series. The Gilroy team also brought with it a Republic of California flag that has flown at the capital to fly above its dugout during games.
nIf you couldn’t make it to the Little League Softball World series, you can still catch all the action live. All games are broadcast from Alpenrose Stadium via webcast on www.fullaccesssports.com.
Before every World Series game, groundskeepers spray the bases white to make them look brand new. The bases aren’t put back on to the field until all pregame warm-ups are finished. The ground crew also re-paints the Alpenrose rose logos at the corners of the batter’s box before each game with the colors of the two participating teams. In the West-South game, one rose was purple for Gilroy and the other was orange for McLean, Va.
Pool B schedule
for Gilroy (West)
Thursday, Aug. 11, 5pm
(GAME 2 OF WORLD SERIES)
McLean, Va. (South) 12,
Gilroy (West) 11
Today, 12:30pm (GAME 7)
Gilroy (West)
vs. Bacolod, Phi. (Asia Pacific)
Main Field
Saturday, Aug. 13, 3pm (GAME 11)
Gilroy (West)
vs. Brzeg, Poland (Europe)
Main Field
Monday, Aug. 15, 5:30pm (GAME 19)
5:30pm
Louisville, Ky. (Central)
vs. Gilroy (West)
East Field
Tuesday, Aug. 16, 4pm (GAME 21)*
1st Pool A vs. 2nd Pool B
Main Field
TELEVISED ESPN2
Tues., Aug. 16, 6:30pm (GAME 22)*
2nd Pool A vs. 1st Pool B
Main Field
TELEVISED ESPN2
Wed., Aug. 17, 10am (GAME 23)*
5th Pool A vs. 5th Pool B
East Field
Wed., Aug. 17, 9:30am (GAME 24)
4th Pool A vs. 4th Pool B
Main Field
Wed., Aug. 17, noon (GAME 25)
3rd Pool A vs. 3rd Pool B
Main Field
Thursday, Aug. 18, 3pm (GAME 26)
THIRD-PLACE GAME
Loser Game 21
vs. Loser Game 22
Main Field
Thurs., Aug. 18, 6:30pm (GAME 27)
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Winner Game 21
vs. Winner Game 22
Main Field
TELEVISED ESPN2
* Depending on Pool record
Gilroy (West) roster
Alissa Castro SS/P
Marisa Gamboa OF
Dani Hemeon OF/2B
Lindsay Holt 1B/OF/3B
Danielle Kinoshita P/OF/1B
Melanie Morelos C/3B/OF
Brenna O’Neill 3B/SS/C
Adrianna Osuna 1B/3B/OF
Sam Parraz P/OF/1B/3B
Stephanie Rodriquez OF/2B/P/CF
Michelle Sosa 2B
Elaina Vasquez OF/1B
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