Todd Gimenez pitched a complete eight-strikeout game to lead the
Gavilan Rams to a 5-4 win Saturday over Ohlone – the first win of
the season.
Todd Gimenez pitched a complete eight-strikeout game to lead the Gavilan Rams to a 5-4 win Saturday over Ohlone – the first win of the season.
“Traditionally they are always a powerhouse and are a perennial playoff team,” said Gavilan coach Neal Andrade, whose team is 1-12 overall and 1-4 in conference. “It is a big step for our team and the program to beat a quality team like that.”
In the second inning, Rocco Castanza led off with a double, and Live Oak grad Josh Becknall knocked him in for the Rams’ first run.
After Ohlone got three runs in the third inning, Gavilan tied the game in its half of the inning.
Eric Crane led off with a single and BJ Collum, a Gilroy alum, had an RBI triple. Collum scored on an RBI groundout by Isaac Rodrigues.
In the sixth inning, Mike Free had an RBI groundout to give the Rams a 4-3 lead.
And in the seventh, Collum singled to start the inning and was sacrificed to second by Rodrigues. Becknall, who was 2 for 4, came up with another clutch RBI hit.
Gimenez gave up a leadoff home run in the seventh inning but got the next three batters out.
“We’ve had four or five games we’ve played in this year like this that didn’t go our way,” Andrade said. “We know we are good enough to win some games. The first one is always the toughest.”
The Rams were coming off of a 9-5 loss at San Francisco City on Thursday. Rodrigues (1 for 4 ) and Costanza (1 for 3) both had doubles. Collum had a pair of RBIs, and John Kirkish went 2 for 4.
Gavilan will play against visiting Monterey Peninsula College Tuesday at 2 p.m.
