Gilroy's excellent adventure continued Wednesday night as it defeated Los Altos 2-1 to advance to the Central Coast Section Division II title game.
The Mustangs will meet the winner of Thursday night's game between Hillsdale and Mt. Pleasant for the title on Saturday at PAL Stadium at a time to be determined.
Gilroy's latest victory comes on the heels of last week's 6-3 upset victory against previously unbeaten and top-seeded Archbishop Mitty.
"Winning against Mitty was probably the best feeling in the entire world," Mustang pitcher Lauren Castro said. "Winning this was even better."
Things looked shaky for No. 8 seed Gilroy in the first when Los Altos scored on a two-out double by Tianna Vasquez, driving home leadoff hitter Jasmine Pedroza who was hit by a pitch and then stole second base.
But Gilroy tied the game in the second against freshman Lizzy Beutter on Cristyn Simpson's run-scoring double, knocking in Holly Lam who had singled to center field to start the inning and was bunted to second by freshman Anna Gamboa.
Gamboa also figured prominently in the game-winning seventh inning rally, tripling to center field to start the inning and then scoring on an infield throwing error.
"I just knew that I had to do anything possible to get on base to help my team win," Gamboa said. "Right when I saw it from the pop of the bat I knew I had to start running."
Added Gamboa: "It feels great to be able to get this win for my team and to be able to get to the finals."
Gamboa's run was all the cushion Castro needed as she allowed runners to reach first and second with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but recorded the final two outs on a pop-out and strikeout, touching off a wild celebration for the Mustangs (16-12) who are seeking the program's second section title and first since 1999.
"It was a little too exciting," Gilroy coach Julie Berggren said. "We're very pleased with the outcome. Los Altos is very well coached. Tom (Barrera) does an absolutely amazing job with them. But we're really excited to end up on the (winning) side."
In the opposite dugout it was a case of what-ifs as the Eagles fell just short.
"It's a team with four freshmen," Los Altos coach Barrera said. "They need to learn how to play the game. They'll get better as time goes on."
Los Altos (18-10-2) especially missed the defense of outfielder Kaitlyn Schiffhauer, who was out with an injury.
"Oh my God -- any ball hit to the outfield (for Schiffhauer) is just a routine catch," Barrera said. "We were missing her speed, her bat and just her experience."
Schiffhauer, a left-handed slap hitter, only played two league games after being diagnosed with tendinitis in her left wrist.
Los Altos had a prime opportunity to move ahead in the fifth, loading the bases with two out before Castro escaped the jam by inducing a groundout.
"We had the opportunities, but we didn't take advantage," Barrera said. "We got runners in scoring position and didn't come through with the timely hit."
Castro, a sophomore, allowed two hits, struck out eight and walked five.
Beutter yielded six hits, struck out two and walked two in a hard-luck loss.
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John Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@Prep2Prep.com and followed on Twitter @PrepCat
