Gilroy got back on track in its second game of pool play at the
Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Ore. Friday,
defeating Asia-Pacific 7-3.
Gilroy got back on track in its second game of pool play at the Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Ore. Friday, defeating Asia-Pacific 7-3.
Gilroy held their opponents scoreless until the bottom half of the sixth and final inning, when the team made several errors and gave up three runs. Shortstop Casey Lester called timeout and gathered every player from the West squad to the pitcher’s mound for a motivational talk. The team dispersed and shortly after collected enough outs to do away with their opponents and end the game.
“No, not nervous” said Gilroy manager Dusty Lester about what he thought after seeing the lead shrink to four. “They kind of a had a little rally. There were a couple calls – and the girls got a little flustered. I called time and tried to talk to (pitcher Kaylana Mah) a little bit … (then Casey) brought the whole team together on the pitcher’s mound to get them settled down. The umpires didn’t like that very much.”
Regardless, Gilroy came away with a must-win in what will likely be a win-or-go-home scenario for the rest of the tournament. Only the top two teams from both pools of five teams will advance to the semifinals. Gilroy is now 1-1 in the tournament.
Sarina Sandoval got Gilroy on the board to start the first inning after getting a base hit. She scored off of an Ashlee Williams single.
The third inning brought two more runs as Mah and Williams each walked, and then moved up the base paths from a fielder’s choice out by Shawnte Garcia. Both runners ended up scoring on passed balls.
Casey Lester scored the next run in the fourth inning, giving Gilroy a 4-0 lead, when she walked and was batted in by a Sandoval double.
Amber Gamboa led off the fifth inning with a walk, and advanced on three wild pitches to increase the lead to 5-0.
The final frame showcased a triple by Sarah Ordaz who also scored on a passed ball. Mah followed with a walk and was knocked in by a base hit by Garcia.
Despite scoring seven runs for a secure lead throughout the game, Gilroy committed five errors, which it will need to rectify by tomorrow’s 10am game against Germany. The team’s next game after that will be Monday at 8pm against the Central squad. Together, both games will decide if the team advances to the “final four.”
“It’s just kind of a fluke thing, and I’m hoping we can get back to (fielding well),” Gilroy’s manager said. “But hey, a win’s a win.”
