Notre Dame-Salinas pitcher Vanessa Gonzalez had already retired Callee Heen three times before San Benito High’s star shortstop came up to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning in Tuesday night’s game at Veterans Memorial Park. With a base open, the Spirits had a chance to intentionally put Heen on first.
They didn’t, and the University of Hawaii-signee made them pay. Heen took a 1-1 offering deep to center field, a mammoth shot that gave the Haybalers a 3-1 win and vaulted them into sole possession of first place in the Monterey Bay League’s Gabilan Division.
“(Coach) Andrew (Barragan) told me just before the at-bat that she’s going to make a mistake pitch,” Heen said. “She gave it to me and it was up to me to end the game. It helped a lot that I was able to see a lot of pitches from her before. (JV coach) John (Young) was telling me I had to stay on top of the riseball. I couldn’t get it until that final at-bat.”
Barragan knew Heen could end things with one swing of the bat.
“She (Gonzalez) made that one mistake in trying to come up on Callee,” he said. “You don’t come up on Callee. It’s a game over, put a fork in it situation.”
San Benito (11-1 overall, 4-0 league) was coming off its first loss of the season against Central High of Fresno last Friday. But once again, the Balers displayed their mettle in close games, coming through against a tough pitcher and winning despite collecting only five hits.
Balers starter Amanda Moisa continued to show she’s a pitcher on the rise, allowing just four hits and striking out five in eight masterful innings. The sophomore right-hander mixed speeds nicely, utilizing a fastball and change-up with devastating results.
“Amanda had them off balance pretty much all game,” Barragan said. “She kept the ball down in the zone.”
Moisa’s emergence as a potential dominating pitcher is a big reason why the Balers have looked impressive throughout the season. Softball is all about having the hammer in the circle, and Moisa’s play has been nothing short of fantastic.
“Amanda wants to learn and get better,” Heen said. “Once she gets her confidence up, she’ll be a stud pitcher. She’s working hard for us, and it’s great to see.”
Chloe Cortez had a team-high two hits, and Noel Chavarria had a double and walk. Cortez drove in the team’s first run on a single with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The hit plated Chavarria, who reached on a leadoff double. However, Notre Dame got the tying run in the bottom half and was threatening for more before the Balers escaped the inning without further damage.
When Balers catcher Rylee Roberson’s attempted pickoff throw to third base traveled to left field, the Spirits’ Daphne Prodis came racing home for the potential go-ahead run. Roberson blocked the plate, with Prodis having no clear path to home plate.
Instead of sliding feet first, however, Prodis drove her shoulder into Roberson. The home plate umpire immediately ruled Prodis out on the play. Had Prodis simply slid feet first, she most likely would’ve either been safe on the play since the ball was dropped, or the umpire might have ruled catcher’s obstruction.
Instead, the play set up Heen’s heroics two innings later. The sweet-swinging lefty has three home runs this season, with a .548 average, .600 on-base percentage, 1.161 slugging percentage and a robust 1.761 OPS.
“You want to be in that situation with the game on the line,” Heen said.
