Wildcats make the most of their chances against Milpitas
MILPITAS >> In the first four innings on April 3, the Los Gatos softball team couldn't find a way to cross home plate at Milpitas.
But then a two-run double by Ria Sharma, followed later by three RBIS from Grace Tucker, propelled the Wildcats to a 5-3 victory. This helped the Wildcats remain undefeated in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division entering the week.
“We were a little sloppy,” said Los Gatos coach Randy Frey, whose team committed multiple errors in the win. “(Milpitas pitcher Priyah Quinonez) had a great curveball going in the beginning of the game, and … we were just sort of waving at that curveball that was breaking off the plate. So I talked to the girls and tried to encourage them to crowd the plate to take that away.”
The Wildcats were missing catcher and middle-ofthe-lineup hitter Annika Norquist, who was ill. Frey said the returning firstteam ALL-SCVAL De Anza Division player “is rocksolid behind the plate.”
Frey highlighted the efforts of Tessa Lilienstein, who was 2 for 3 with a stolen base in the game. The sophomore outfielder is on a recent tear with increased playing time and leads the team with a .647 batting average and .714 on-base percentage entering this week.
“That's what I'm trying to convey to all the girls is when you get your chance, try to make the most of it,” Frey said.
Tucker was 3 for 4, including a two-run triple in the seventh inning that broke the game open for the Wildcats.
“She's been tearing the cover off the ball lately,” said Frey about the sophomore shortstop who was a first-team ALL-SCVAL De Anza Division player last year.
Los Gatos trailed 1-0 entering the top of the fifth. Olivia Sickels led off with a walk, moved to second on a groundout and stole third on a walk to Robyn Young. Then, on a 1-2 count, Sharma hit a rope to center field to drive in both baserunners — and the Wildcats didn't trail again.
“She's been on fire hitting,” said Frey about Sharma, a junior.
The Wildcats increased their lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth. After a leadoff triple to deep center field by Ava Norquist, Tucker drove her in with a single to center field.
The victory was one of three SCVAL De Anza Division wins that the Wildcats produced last week. They also went 1-1 in pool play at the Los Gatos-westmont tournament on Saturday. The tournament concludes on April 20.
On April 1, host Los Gatos scored in four of the first five innings during an 8-2 win over Fremont. Lily Young was 2 for 3 with a double and a triple, two RBI and one run scored. Lilienstein, Tucker and Sharma also had two hits, while Tucker and Sharma each drove in two runs. Clare Torres drove in the Wildcats' other run.
Los Gatos produced nine runs in the fourth inning on its way to an 11-1 five-inning mercy-rule win against visiting Wilcox on April 5. Lily Young was 3 for 3, including a triple, scored three runs and drove in one. Addie Sorto, Annika Norquist, Ava Norquist and Lilienstein all had doubles. Lilienstein and Tucker each had two hits, and Robyn Young drove in two runs in the victory.
In Los Gatos' first game of the tournament Saturday, it led 5-0 after three innings on its way to a 9-1 win over Menlo-atherton. Tucker was 3 for 4 with a double, a run and an RBI. Ava Norquist was 2 for 3, including a double, with three RBI and three runs scored. Lilienstein was also 2 for 3 with two RBI.
But Hillsdale then broke a seven-game Los Gatos winning streak with a 7-2 win on Saturday. Alexa Musser was 2 for 3 with a run scored and Ava Norquist drove in both of her team's runs in the fifth inning. She had a double, as did Young, in the game.
Los Gatos' next game is Wednesday at Los Altos at 4 p.m. It enters this week with a 12-3 overall record and 5-0 SCVAL De Anza Division mark.
Baseball
Los Gatos split its series with Homestead last week.
After the team from Cupertino rallied with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to nip Los Gatos 7-6 on April 3, the Wildcats rallied two days later from a 1-0 deficit to win 3-1.
AJ Minyard pitched six innings of one-run, onehit ball on April 5 for the win. The senior struck out six and walked one. Anthony Andrews produced a perfect seventh inning, including two strikeouts, for the save.
Sage Romero was 2 for 3 with an RBI for the Wildcats in the win. Justin Mazzaferro added an RBI and a run scored in the victory.
On April 3, Brady Simon was 3 for 3 with two doubles and a triple and drove in three runs. Zach Biller added a 2-for-4 day awith two RBI and a run scored, and Santino Nanez drove in the team's other run. Donovan Freed added a double and a run scored for the Wildcats.
Los Gatos enters this week with an 11-3 overall record and a 4-2 SCVAL De Anza Division mark. It hosted Gunn on Wednesday after this article's deadline. The Wildcats travel to play Gunn today at 4 p.m. and Sacred Heart Prep in a nonleague game on Saturday at 11 a.m. before a road trip for games in Tennessee.