San Benito kept the pressure high and Gilroy couldn’t seem to
catch a break in Saturday afternoon’s Division I softball title
game at PAL Stadium in San Jose. As a result, San Benito won 8-3,
giving the Lady ‘Balers a perfect 3-0 record against the rival
Mustangs this season, as well as their third Central Coast Section
championship in as many years.
San Benito kept the pressure high and Gilroy couldn’t seem to catch a break in Saturday afternoon’s Division I softball title game at PAL Stadium in San Jose. As a result, San Benito won 8-3, giving the Lady ‘Balers a perfect 3-0 record against the rival Mustangs this season, as well as their third Central Coast Section championship in as many years.
Timely defensive plays kept Gilroy from ever being able to seriously chip away at six runs allowed in the first two innings.
After hitting a batter and walking two, both on full counts, in the bottom of the first, the pitching hand of Gilroy’s Melinda Ortiz was struck by a line drive that resulted in a run. Another full-count walk and hit batter, followed by a fielder’s choice play that didn’t result in an out, put Gilroy in a 4-0 hole by the end of the first frame.
Ortiz was forced to exit the game two batters into the second inning, both reaching base on walks, as the swelling on her hand worsened. After tossing three straight complete-game shutouts in the playoffs, it was an anti-climactic ending for the senior and ace of Gilroy’s pitching staff.
Freshman Sarah Lira stepped in to pitch for the Mustangs, allowing the two runners already aboard in the second to score on a double by Lizzy Gatto and two more runs in the fifth.
Phenomenal catches by Lady ‘Baler outfielders Bre Fata, who made a diving snag to deny a run in the fourth, and Rachel Maheu, who robbed a home run shot from Emily Castro at the wall in the fifth, prevented the Mustangs from ever taking a hold of momentum. Castro’s at-bat scored Gilroy’s first run of the game, plating Brittany Balanesi who was tagging up after a triple, but the play was a moral victory for San Benito as the damage was limited.
The Lady ‘Balers strong defensive play in the infield was led by shortstop Elena Fata. The ball seemed to end up in her hands almost every play, sometimes when it had no business coming to her.
Gilroy attempted to rally in the seventh when Castro hit a laser down the line, but the ball deflected off San Benito’s third baseman directly to Fata. Balanesi, on second after hitting an RBI double, took just a few steps from the bag after the hit, but the bounce immediately placed her in a pickle. With two outs recorded, Gilroy scored its last run when Angelica Galindo doubled to score Castro.
Marisa Ibarra closed out the game an at-bat later with a strikeout, giving the junior her third championship contest victory. Ibarra gave up five hits, struck out four, and allowed a run in the fifth and two in the seventh.
San Benito’s final record on the season is 28-4. Gilroy closes out the year 22-9.
GHS 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 – 5 3 1
SB 4 2 0 0 2 0 x – 6 8 0
