Nick Acosta had five RBI and the San Benito Haybalers pounded
out 16 hits en route to an easy and convincing 18-2 victory on
Tuesday against host Everett Alvarez in Salinas.
The game was called in the fifth inning due to the 10-run mercy
rule after the Balers, who improve to 3-0 in the Tri-County
Athletic League and 5-2 overall, scored multiple runs in each of
the first five innings.
Nick Acosta had five RBI and the San Benito Haybalers pounded out 16 hits en route to an easy and convincing 18-2 victory on Tuesday against host Everett Alvarez in Salinas.
The game was called in the fifth inning due to the 10-run mercy rule after the Balers, who improve to 3-0 in the Tri-County Athletic League and 5-2 overall, scored multiple runs in each of the first five innings.
San Benito jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first frame, and although the Eagles responded with one in the bottom half, the Balers increased their lead to 10-1 after two innings, 12-1 after three and 16-1 through four full innings.
San Benito has now won three straight league games by a 44-8 margin.
Acosta was 3 of 3 with a double to go along with his five RBI, while teammates Isaak Ramos was 2 of 2 with two RBI, Mark Hurley was 2 of 3 with a two-RBI double, and Kyle Vallejo was 2 of 3.
Vallejo, meanwhile, made up one part of a five-pitcher committee for Tuesday’s game against Everett Alvarez, each pitcher tossing one inning of work.
Darin Gillies (1IP, 1R, 0ER, 0H, 1K, 2BB) started the game for the Balers, while Dustin Rovella (1IP, 0R, 1H, 3K, 1BB), Vallejo (1IP, 0R, 0H, 1K, 0BB), Justin Schlie (1IP, 0R, 0H, 1K, 1BB) and Trevor Fabing (1IP, 1R, 1ER, 2H, 0K, 0BB) finished the game in relief.
The pitching committee allowed manager Michael Luna to keep his staff fresh and ready for a key two-game series this weekend against Salinas (0-2 TCAL). Gillies will get the starting nod once again on Friday, when the Balers and Cowboys will meet up in Salinas for a 4 p.m. game.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday for an 11 a.m. game in Hollister.
Meanwhile, last Saturday’s scheduled league game against Everett Alvarez in Hollister was postponed after the Eagles were unable to field a full team. However, the game is expected to be rescheduled in late April.
SBHS Boys Tennis
The San Benito boys tennis team remained perfect on the season Tuesday when it defeated host Monte Vista Christian 5-2 in Watsonville and improved to 3-0 overall.
The Balers, who are now 2-0 in the Tri-County Athletic League, had just one loss each among its singles players and doubles teams, leading to the comfortable conference win.
Kyle Skinner picked up a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Ha Lee at the No. 1 position, and teammate Jacob Garcia narrowly defeated Sean Trando 4-6, 7-5 and 11-9 in the third-set tiebreaker.
Monte Vista Christian scored its lone singles win at No. 3, where Larry Hsu defeated Austin Pan 5-7, 6-1 and 10-6 in the third-set tiebreaker, although San Benito’s Eric Johnson returned the favor at the No. 4 spot by upending Khoi Houng 6-4, 6-1.
It was a similar story in doubles as well. The Balers’ top team in Conner Bray and Michael Jensen topped Elias Stolzberg and David Lin 6-3, 6-2, while teammates Geoff Muzik and Jacob Panger followed suit with a 6-4, 4-6 10-6 victory against Andy Chang and Jay Jung.
The Watsonville school earned its only doubles victory in the No. 4 spot, as Max Song and Sam Huang beat Richard Gomez and Travis Mills in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
San Benito was scheduled to play against visiting Everett Alvarez on Thursday, although that match took place after The Weekend Pinnacle’s press time.
SBHS Boys Volleyball
The San Benito Haybalers won their fourth straight match in Tri-County Athletic League play on Tuesday when they swept host Alisal in three games (25-12, 25-10, 25-7).
The win pushes the Balers out to a 4-1 record in the TCAL and evens their overall record to 6-6.
San Benito was scheduled to host Palma on Thursday night in Hollister, although that match took place after The Weekend Pinnacle’s press time.
