The last time Gilroy and San Benito met on the diamond tempers
flared, players and fans were ejected, and after trailing at one
point 7-0, the Balers mounted a stirring comeback to defeat the
Mustangs 14-13 in the 2009-10 season finale.
Ah, yes, memories.
Who else is ready for more?
The last time Gilroy and San Benito met on the diamond tempers flared, players and fans were ejected, and after trailing at one point 7-0, the Balers mounted a stirring comeback to defeat the Mustangs 14-13 in the 2009-10 season finale.
Ah, yes, memories.
Who else is ready for more?
The two bitter rivals encounter one another twice this week in a home-and-home series beginning today in Gilroy.
Two things are for sure: quality baseball will ensue, and there will most likely be one or two extra security personnel whose presence shouldn’t be needed – these two games, though early in the season, hold significant importance to the playoff aspirations of both teams.
Neither side can afford a mental lapse.
Unlike the last bash, in which San Benito had already sown up the Tri-County Athletic League title and the Mustangs were already playoff bound, the pair of tilts this week linger as possible season-altering outings. Thus, the focus, I would think, won’t be on showing up each other, rather more on playing the game and staying composed.
Mean mugging, extra body language and of course the occasional chippy chatter will assuredly have its place, most rivalry games wouldn’t be the same without that. But the play on the field will speak much louder than words.
“This is a big week for us,” GHS manager Johnny Ramirez said. “I know they are still upset from last year, but I told them not to chirp and just play their game.”
As of Monday, Palma (10-1-1 TCAL) holds a one-game lead over both the Balers (7-2) and Mustangs (7-2-1) in the standings – both have two losses in league (one each to Salinas and Palma.) GHS and Palma still have a 1-1 tie to resolve after their March 17 game was called due to darkness after nine innings.
Chasing down Palma only reiterates the must-have mentality the two teams will carry into this week’s slate. And with the unpredictability of Salinas High – a team that on any given day can be unstoppable and the polar opposite on the next; the Cowboys handed palma its first league setback Thursday – making up ground in the TCAL is a tough task.
“These games could change the whole thing for all the teams in the league,” Ramirez said. “It’s kind of fun.”
This series always highlights some intriguing matchups between the lines beginning with the Balers one-two punch of Darin Gillies and Bryan Granger on the mound facing Gilroy’s hit-happy lineup, which includes big bopper Eric Vegas, who already has 15 hits this season, and a host of others who already have four multi-hit games.
The Mustangs will counter with Eric Brolin and Ryan Alba on the bump, with Brolin getting the nod for Game 1.
The familiarity, the pride and the tension will only increase the playoff-like aura. day of the week.
“It’s a dog fight from here on out,” Ramirez said.
