Game 1: GateWay Edges Chandler Gilbert in Tight Ballgame (4-3)
GateWay held on for a narrow victory against Chandler Gilbert in a pitcher's duel on Tuesday night. Despite committing four errors, GateWays pitching staff managed to outlast Chandler Gilbert's. The Geckos offense, led by a three-hit performance from Treston Shallenberger (3-for-4, 2 Runs, 2 RBI, 1 SB), managed to scratch across four runs on ten hits. While Jeff Martz (1-for-4, 1 RBI) and Macs Carillo (2-for-5, 1 RBI) each chipped in with a double and an RBI. Andrew Hunt also had a productive night, going 1-for-4 with a double and a stolen base. Also contributing at the plate was Braden Watkins (1-for-3, 1 Run, 1 SB), Jeter Mauzey (1-for-4), and James Warren who went 1-for-4 with a triple.
GateWays starting pitcher Andres Gonzalez had a strong outing, allowing three runs (one earned) on just five hits and three walks in 6.2 innings. He struck out six batters and earning the win. Wyatt Bauer came on in relief and tossed 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one to earn the save.
Game 2: Gateway Geckos Pound Chandler Gilbert in High-Scoring Affair (15-11)
The Gateway Geckos exploded for 15 runs on 14 hits to overpower the Chandler Gilbert Coyotes by a score of 15-11 on Wednesday night. Jeter Mauzey led the Geckos offensive onslaught, going 3-for-5 with a double, a pair of home runs and a staggering 8 RBIs. Macs Carillo (2-for-4, 2 Runs, 1 RBI), Braden Watkins (2-for-5, 2 Runs, 1 RBI, 2 SB), and Andrew Hunt (2-for-5, 2 Runs, 2 SB) also had multi-hit games as the Geckos bats were clicking throughout the night. Every batter in the starting lineup reached base at least once, with William Mann, Jeffery Martz, Nolan Kutcher, and Roy Carrasco each hitting a double, and seven players scoring runs.
Braeden Romero (W, 5.67 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 3 ER, 6 SO) picked up the win for the Geckos despite some shaky defense behind him. He allowed 10 hits and 8 runs (3 earned) in 5.67 innings but managed to pitch out of jams and strand runners on base to secure the victory. Relievers Matthew DAmato (1.67 IP, 0 ER, 1 K) and Jeffery Martz (1 IP, 0 ER, 2 K) provided scoreless innings to shut the door on Chandler Gilbert.
Despite the lopsided score, Chandler Gilbert did not go down without a fight three runs in the 6th and three runs in the 7th. But it was not enough to defeat the Geckos. Both teams committed a handful of errors, with Gateway Geckos (5) edging out Chandler Gilbert (3) in miscues. The sloppy defense led to several unearned runs, but ultimately, the Grizzles' offensive firepower proved to be the difference.
