Clutch hitting by Stevens, pitching by Dexter helps GHS win
first-place showdown
Gilroy – Michael Stevens entered Tuesday’s game against San Benito leading Gilroy with 45 hits and 36 RBIs.
None of his hits this season was bigger than No. 46. None of his RBIs were bigger than Nos. 38 and 39.
Stevens’ two-out, two-run double in the sixth inning lifted the Mustangs to a 5-4 Tri-County Athletic League win over the Haybalers. Suffice it to say, Gilroy’s 20th win of the season was its biggest as well as it lifted the team into sole possession of first place in the TCAL.
“Definitely the biggest hit of the season for me and the team,” Stevens said. “(San Benito reliever Ronnie Fhurong) had been throwing curve balls all day. I knew I’d get one. I stayed inside and went with it.”
The sixth inning didn’t get off to a promising start for the Mustangs (20-10 overall, 7-2 TCAL). With one out, Roberto Celestino was safe on an error but was erased when he was caught stealing. Charlie Duffy hit a hard double to right. Danny Contreras reached base for the third time when he walked. And, with the runners moving, Stevens poked a soft line drive down the rightfield line. When the throw came to second, Contreras was waved in and scored the winning run.
While it was Gilroy’s biggest win, it wasn’t the team’s best effort. Two errors and three baserunning blunders nearly proved costly.
“At times, it didn’t look like we were the two best teams,” GHS coach Clint Wheeler said. “I’m happy the guys stayed together and didn’t let it rattle them. They did a good job.”
Of Stevens’ key hit, Wheeler noted, “The best thing about that at-bat was the first two strikes were borderline calls and he didn’t let it get into his head. It was our biggest hit of the year so far.”
Meanwhile, Jacob Dexter pitched a gutty nine-hitter with five strikeouts and one walk.
“Dexter did a good job mixing up his pitches,” San Benito coach Michael Luna said. “He was around the plate.”
Dexter was charged with three earned runs and yet if a ball hadn’t been misplayed in the outfield it would have been no runs. Nevertheless, the junior lefthander had better control than when he faced the ‘Balers on March 22 and was rocked for 10 runs in the sixth. In that game, he walked three and hit three batters.
“This time I did a better job keeping them off balance,” said Dexter, who thwarted two sacrifice bunt attempts by getting forceouts at second. “The biggest thing with them is they have no weak spots in their lineup, so you have to be ahead of them in the count. They’re definitely the most balanced lineup in the league. They swing the bat really well.”
Of Stevens’ clutch hit, Luna said, “The walk was unfortunate because we had to face Stevens. I would rather we had pitched to Contreras.”
The ‘Balers (23-8, 6-3) scored three times in the third as No. 9 hitter Kevin Gonzales singled to start it and was forced at second when Dexter got rid of Justin Andrade’s bunt. After a second out, Brian Haggett walked. A passed ball moved both runners up a base. Kevin Medeiros lofted a fly ball to left field. Orlando Felix came in on the ball which flew over his head for a two-run double. Zach Canez followed with an RBI single.
The Mustangs got one back in the third when Contreras beat out an infield single, stole second and went to third on an errant throw by the catcher, and scored as Stevens grounded out to second. In the fourth, Matt Hemeon was hit by a pitch, Lukas Fortino singled and Celestino was hit by a pitch. Duffy hit a sacrifice fly but Celestino was caught between first and second and doubled up. Contreras followed with an RBI infield single to tie the game.
San Benito went ahead in the fifth by scoring an unearned run.
‘We made some mistake but we keep getting better,” Stevens said. “Dexter is money for us. We know that when he pitches we always have a chance to win.”
Gilroy is at North Salinas at 4pm Thursday.
San Benito 003 010 0 – 4 9 4
Gilroy 001 202 x – 5 11 2
Garcia, Fhurong (4) and Zozaya; Dexter and Fortino. L-Fhurong. 2B-SB, Medeiros; GIL-Grove, Duffy, Stevens.
