After San Benito defeated Monterey 7-3 last week, the Toreadors
returned the favor with a 2-1 win at the Mike Hazlett
Tournament
SANTA CLARA
One week after it defeated Monterey 7-3 in Hollister, the San Benito High baseball team managed to hold the Toreadors hitless through four innings Thursday night at the Mike Hazlett Tournament in Santa Clara.
But in what turned out to be a pitcher’s duel in the end, in a game that featured just four hits combined between the two teams, Monterey’s D.W. Russo had the upper hand.
“The pitcher we faced was really good,” San Benito manager Michael Luna said.
Russo, who did not pitch in last week’s contest, struck out 11 Haybalers Thursday en route to a 2-1 victory in the first round of the tournament, which was postponed twice earlier this week due to inclement weather.
The senior hurler, who will attend UC Santa Barbara, allowed just two hits in the one-run victory.
“He was really good, but we had a couple of opportunities to put some runs on the board,” Luna said. “Obviously we didn’t get that done. But he was good and we didn’t make the adjustments we needed to make at the plate.”
Opposite of Russo was San Benito starter Jacob Eichhorn, who threw three no-hit innings and struck out four. Eichhorn, though, is scheduled to start in Tuesday’s Tri-County Athletic League opener against Palma, and Luna held him to a pitch count of 45 as a result.
Eichhorn left the game after 43 pitches.
In relief was Tyler Provost, who finished the remaining three innings, striking out four and allowing just two runs, one earned.
“It was a great high school game to watch,” Luna said. “A great pitcher’s duel.”
The ‘Balers grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top half of the third inning when Mark Hurley walked, then went to second on a pass ball. After Ryan Sabbitini sacrificed Hurley over, Ramiro Chapa hit a fielder’s choice ground ball to the shortstop, scoring Hurley from third base.
The Toreadors delivered upon both of their two hits in the fifth inning, though, and capitalized on two free bases as well.
After Monterey’s leadoff hitter reached base by an error to open the fifth, and the next batter struck out, a Toreador batter then singled to put runners on first and second with one out.
When a hit-batsman loaded the bases, Monterey then connected on just their second base hit, a single to right field that plated the tying run. The next batter then hit a slow rolling ground ball to the third baseman, whose only play was at first base, and the go-ahead run scored as a result.
The ‘Balers had opportunities to score more runs in the third and fifth innings, when Kyle Zozaya came to the plate with runners in scoring position. But San Benito’s current hit leader unfortunately hit hard line drives to left and right field, respectively.
“Unfortunately, they played him right and he hit it right at them,” Luna said. “He hit the ball hard, but it was just one of those days.”
San Benito (3-2) will return to the Mike Hazlett Tournament at Santa Clara’s Washington Park on Friday against Santa Clara High at 4:30 p.m. The Bruins lost to Wilcox 10-4 on Thursday night, despite leading 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning.
SANB – 001 000 0 – 1 2 2
MONT – 000 020 X – 2 2 0
WP: D. Russo
LP: T. Provost
