Behind a near no-hitter from starting pitcher Adam Gonzales, the San Benito 14-year-old Babe Ruth team won the Central California State championship Tuesday and advanced to the Pacific Southwest Regionals.
San Benito dominated Reedley, allowing only one hit in an 8-0 victory in Arroyo Grande on Tuesday. San Benito finished the tournament with a 4-0 record.
Gonzales used his curveball to keep Reedley off-balance in the win. In seven innings and 92 pitches, Gonzales struck out 10 batters and allowed only a seventh-inning lead-off single in the victory.
He also helped himself at the plate, finishing 2-for-2 with a double and two walks. Gonzales helped two separate run-scoring rallies for San Benito.
San Benito was aided by six Reedley errors and nine walks. Four of the All-Star team’s runs were scored off four Reedley errors.
San Benito got on the board in the second inning, after Reedley walked the bases loaded. With two outs, John Barrientos was hit by a pitch to drive in the game’s first run.
An inning later, San Benito added to their lead when Josh Nehme reached on Reedley throwing error, scoring Vinnie Parker from second base. In the fourth inning, San Benito added two runs when an error on a Tyler Biersdorff groundball allowed RJ Clark and Barrientos to score.
San Benito added single runs in the fifth inning on a Nolan Carmona RBI and another error in the seventh inning to build an 8-0 lead.
With the victory, San Benito advances to the Pacific Southwest Regionals in Surprise, Arizona on July 30. They will open the tournament against Tucson.
