It was already considered one of the greatest seasons in San
Benito softball history, if not the greatest. A second straight
Tri-County Athletic League title, a sixth straight Central Coast
Section championship, and a pair of top-10 finishes in the year-end
polls, including a No. 2 national ranking by MaxPreps, all added up
to an impressive single-season resume for the Balers. Add to it one
more accolade. On Friday, ESPN Rise and Cal-Hi Sports named San
Benito manager Scott Smith the California State Coach of the Year.
The greatest season in San Benito softball history may no longer be
an argument.
HOLLISTER
It was already considered one of the greatest seasons in San Benito softball history, if not the greatest.
A second straight Tri-County Athletic League title, a sixth straight Central Coast Section championship, and a pair of top-10 finishes in the year-end polls, including a No. 2 national ranking by MaxPreps, all added up to an impressive single-season resume for the Balers.
Add to it one more accolade.
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On Friday, ESPN Rise and Cal-Hi Sports named San Benito manager Scott Smith the California State Coach of the Year.
The greatest season in San Benito softball history may no longer be an argument.
“It’s kind of like, ‘What do you do from here?'” Smith said Sunday night. “It’s tough, but it’s great. This is a very deserving group, something they’ll remember forever.”
Yes, the bar has been raised, ever since San Benito went 29-1 this past season. The Balers defeated Gilroy 3-2 in the CCS championship after senior Jessica Steigelman’s walk-off single to straightaway center field in the bottom of the seventh inning on May 28.
Since then, though, the awards and honors have been rolling in to San Benito High — the latest being Smith’s state-wide recognition.
“To me, it’s a group award, with all the assistant coaches and, of course, without the players nothing is possible,” said Smith, who, in 10 seasons at San Benito, has accumulated an overall record of 255-55-1.
“But it means a lot to me and the staff,” added Smith, who coach’s alongside assistants Mike Maheu, Daryl Clayton and Dave Clay. “It’s something we should all be proud of because we do work hard. But if it weren’t for the kids, none of this is possible. It’s pretty special for us.”
Smith joins an elite group of coaches to have earned the award, and is just the fourth from the CCS to have been honored since the award’s inception in 1974, just the eighth from the metropolitan San Francisco Bay Area, according to a statement issued by ESPN Rise.
Carlmont’s Jim Liggett, the state’s all-time winningest coach, and Notre Dame’s Joe Given, who last year retired after accumulating more than 700 wins, were each awarded the California State Coach of the Year honor in 1999 and 1998, respectively.
Gunderson’s Kevin Newman earned the honor as well in 1991.
“I’m happy for this group, happy for the school,” Smith said. “I’m just happy we earned a little respect.”
