Sports
SOFTBALL: Gilroy Advances to Championship Saturday
Mustangs get timely hit and usual brillance in circle from Lira in semifinal win on Tuesday.
Gilroy High freshman Holly Lam said she knew the big hit was going to come for the No. 3 seeded Gilroy High softball team--she just wasn’t quite sure who was going to do it.
After a scoreless first four innings of play, it was Lam that keyed the lone scoring tally of the day with a lead-off triple that zoomed to the fence in left field.
The freshman would later score off a RBI single up the gut from junior Michelle Sosa as Gilroy (25-4) held off a pesky Leland High team 1-0 in a 2011 Central Coast Section Division I semifinal game Tuesday night at PAL field in San Jose.
Find out what's happening in Gilroyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
No. 1 seed San Benito High won 5-0 in the nightcap over Carlmont High-Belmont, setting up another championship showdown between the two league rivals.
Senior Sarah Lorraine Lira earned the win for the Mustangs, outdueling Leland pitchers Devyn Quevedo and Holly Geranen for the complete game shutout win.
Find out what's happening in Gilroyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“I’m excited to see them (San Benito), “Lira said about her team’s next opponent. “This is my last chance to beat them. I’ve haven’t beat them at all. Playing them in the finals is what we all wanted.”
Lira, also quite potent with the bat, was walked twice in the game, including in the first inning. Junior Casey Lester led off the inning with a single up the gut. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second and a fly out advanced Lester to third right before the intentional walk.
However, the promising inning was derailed by a abrupt call from the third base umpire who called Lira out for leading off when time was not called. The Mustangs starting pitcher had only been on the base for a few seconds before the call was made.
“I just tried to stay focused and to not panic,” Lira said. “I know we have good hitters. When stuff like that happens, you just have to shake it off.”
Lam’s extra base hit in the fifth was first of two Gilroy extra baggers on the afternoon. Senior Lindsay Holt later doubled in the sixth inning.
“It felt great,” Lam said. “I just knew right after that it was going to get us going.”
Leland sophomore Alexis Morales singled to open the seventh inning and then took second base off a passed ball.
Lira took a quick breather from the circle and then recorded three straight outs to lock up the 1-0 win.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Gilroy 1, Leland 0
G- 0 0 0 0 1 0 0- 1 7 0
L-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 3 0
WP: Lira. LP: Quevedo
