After San Benito’s 7-1 loss to Valley Christian on Saturday, San Benito softball coach Scott Smith knew he needed to do something different with his six-time Central Coast Section champions.
And for at least one game Tuesday against league-foe Alvarez, it worked.
Behind No. 1 starter Megan Sabbatini’s 12 strikeouts – in less than five innings – San Benito rolled to a five-inning, shortened 10-0 win.
Sabbatini struggled with control in San Benito’s only loss of the season Saturday, but against the Eagles, she never had trouble.
Against the San Benito ace, Alvarez had one base runner — a walk with one out in the fifth inning — and hit only two balls into play. The rest, Sabbatini struck out.
“When Megan pitches like she did today, we are tough to beat,” Smith said.
The difference between the two starts for Sabbatini was simple, she said. Her confidence was up and she had more concentration.
“Just coming from last game when we played Valley and I was struggling a little bit, the past two days in practice, we’ve been working on pitching and stuff,” she said. “And being focused with hitting my spots, that’s what Scott told me to do today. I’m proud of the way I pitched with 12 strikeouts.”
More important, though, the team responded to a tough loss and beat a team they were expected to beat.
“It was good,” Smith said. “I would have been really excited playing a tough game today to see how they would have responded, but the good thing is Megan came back. The main reason why we lost on Saturday was she was having trouble throwing strikes.”
Because of her control troubles, Smith changed his practice routine to spend more time with Sabbatini and give other pitchers more time in practice and during games.
Throughout the game Tuesday, Smith had someone warming up in the bullpen.
“As a coach, I was failing her,” Smith said. “We didn’t come over here and work on things enough. Last year, Megan had a tendency to have a sore arm. So we kind of protected her. And that was the end result. We were having her throw only a minimum amount of pitches during the week.”
He continued: “Last year, we were having her throw three or four times a week. This year, we were having her throw once a week and I wasn’t over here making sure she was focused. It’s easy to get in a rut and just throw.”
Tuesday, she did more than just throw.
From the opening moments of the game, Sabbatini was untouchable. Eight Eagle batters came to the plate and failed to touch a pitch from Sabbatini. Only three strikeouts came from looking at the third strike.
And she walked only one.
“I don’t know, it just feels … it’s a great feeling that you can have so many strikeouts and you’re pitching that well,” she said. “That’s the end result — even if the girls do get hits, I know the defense is behind me and has my back. I only had one walk today and that was a lot better than the last game. I’m proud of that one walk.”
Sabbatini also had a good game at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a third-inning inside-the-park grand slam. The grand slam finished off a 7-run inning for San Benito that ultimately put away a close game.
Senior Mia Vodakavich led off the inning with a triple down the left-field line. Center fielder Ellie Burley followed by hitting a ball into the gap between left field and center field for a standup inside the park home run.
Two batters later first baseman Taylor Fabing hit the inning’s second triple, knocking in Cassidy Heen, who had walked.
Two walks later, Sabbatini hit a line drive down the left-field line, which skipped past the Alvarez defender and to the wall.
“I was just focusing on my hitting and my technique,” Sabbatini said. “I knew she wasn’t the fastest pitcher but I was working on my timing. It boosted myself for pitching. It brings positive vibes out there.”
Sabbatini used those vibes to breeze past the Alvarez hitters, coming a walk away from a perfect game.
“I was trying not to think about it,” she said.
Starting second baseman Brittany Sparrer — in her first pitching appearance of the year — closed the game for the Balers, striking out the only batter she faced in the fifth inning.
Burley, who was moved to the leadoff spot, went 2-for-2 with a home run, two stolen bases and a walk.
With the victory, San Benito is 10-1 overall and hosts North Salinas on Thursday. Look online for an update.
