The cloud cover above held up Tuesday’s rainfall long enough for
the Gilroy High softball squad to get its revenge on league-foe
Salinas as the Lady Mustangs scored one run in each of the first
two innings en route to a 2-0 home victory.
GILROY – The cloud cover above held up Tuesday’s rainfall long enough for the Gilroy High softball squad to get its revenge on league-foe Salinas as the Lady Mustangs scored one run in each of the first two innings en route to a 2-0 home victory.
“The girls were fired up and ready to beat them this time,” said first-year skipper Julie Berggren, whose squad is fighting for its playoff lives with three games remaining. “It just goes to show these girls don’t give up. Our record doesn’t show what fighters we are. Today, we showed that. We’re gearing up. One down and three to go.”
The Lady Mustangs (5-5 in MBL, 11-10 overall) must win their final three games May 2 against Alvarez, May 7 against Alisal, and May 9 against North County to secure a Central Coast Section (CCS) Playoff berth.
And it is no secret.
“We have to win the next few games to at least make CCS so I’m a little nervous,” said junior hurler Jenn Olvera, who not only tossed a complete-game, three-hit shut-out against Salinas, but also registered the only two Gilroy hits. “I thought revenge. We lost by two last time so we beat them by two this time.”
Gilroy got on the scoreboard in its first at-bats as junior first baseman Jenna Daugherty belted a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield to score Olvera (2-for-3, RBI) from third base. Then, the Lady Mustangs extended their lead to 2-0 in the next frame on an Olvera RBI single to leftfield that drove in junior designated hitter Brittany Humphrey – who reached base on a Salinas error.
“That felt good,” said Olvera of getting an early lead instead of feeling the pressure’s of pitching in a scoreless tie. “I felt relieved. It was nice.”
Olvera cruised for most of the contest – only having to pitch out of trouble in the first and fourth innings. Salinas put runners on first and second with two outs in the opening frame – but Olvera got the next batter to pop out to second baseman Laura Hennessee. The Lady Cowboys again put two runners on with two outs in the fourth frame – but junior outfielder Katrina Villa made a sliding grab in left to end the threat.
“Jenn pitched a great game,” said Berggren of her ace. “She got stronger and stronger as the game went on.”
