San Benito defeats North Salinas 11-1 Tuesday, sits in first
place following Gilroy’s 8-2 victory over Palma
SALINAS
Once again the San Benito High baseball team, winners of the last three Tri-County Athletic League titles, is in a very enviable position.
After 10-running North Salinas for the second time in as many games – the ‘Balers beat the Vikings 11-1 in five innings on Tuesday, 13-2 on Saturday – San Benito received some helpful news that broke a one-loss tie atop the TCAL as Gilroy defeated Palma 8-2.
The Chieftain loss puts the ‘Balers all alone in first place at 7-1, with Palma at 8-2 and Gilroy at 6-2.
San Benito will host Gilroy on Friday, while Salinas (5-3 TCAL) will host Palma.
“We could really create some distance before Easter break if we play really good ball and we’re able to sweep Gilroy,” San Benito manager Michael Luna said. “But I’m sure the win over Palma will give them some momentum heading into Friday.”
San Benito’s shortened contest on Tuesday, though, allows Luna to use any one of his pitchers for the two-game series this weekend against the Mustangs.
Tuesday’s starter Jacob Eichhorn dominated North Salinas (3-7 TCAL) through three innings of work, allowing just two hits while striking out six.
“He was very, very good today,” Luna said. “He only faced 12 batters and threw first-pitch strikes to 10 of the 12 batters he faced.”
Eichhorn was only slated to throw two innings, but with San Benito only up 1-0 after those two innings – Kyle Zozaya connected on an RBI single in the first to score Mark Hurley – Luna kept Eichhorn in to pitch the third as well.
And by that time, the ‘Balers held a 5-0 lead and Eichhorn had only thrown 50 pitches.
“I wanted to have all of our pitchers for Friday and Saturday,” Luna said, “and we do now.”
Certainly not wanting to look past the Vikings or even take them lightly – San Benito only led 3-2 heading to the bottom of the fourth in Saturday’s game – the ‘Balers wanted to compete Tuesday “like it was Game 7,” Luna said.
Carrying a 1-0 lead to the third, San Benito jumped on North High for four runs, sparked by a Steve Cabral RBI single that plated an additional run following a fielding error.
With Cabral on second, Tyler Provost followed with an RBI single, while Isaak Ramos then connected on a ground-rule double to score Provost.
The ‘Balers tacked on another run in the next inning on another RBI single from Cabral, while San Benito pocketed five runs in the fifth to build an 11-0 lead.
Ramos and Spencer Brann singled on to start the inning and Darin Gillies trailed with a walk to load the bases. Following a wild pitch that scored Ramos from third and a Mark Hurley sacrifice that scored Brann, Ricky Garcia hit an infield single to score Gillies all the way from second base.
“He kept on running,” Luna said, “and he caught the first baseman off guard.”
Kyle Zozaya then made it a 10-run game when he punched an RBI single into left, and Cabral came through with his third RBI of the game off yet another single to left field.
In relief, Kyle Vallejo closed out the mercy-rule victory for San Benito, throwing the last two innings. Vallejo allowed one run on one hit while walking one.
Luna had not decided upon a starting pitcher for Friday’s game against Gilroy, although he did say he was leaning toward Gillies, who pitched five innings during last Friday’s 16-5 win over Salinas.
First pitch against Gilroy Friday will be at 4 p.m.
SAN BENITO – 104 15X X – 11 12 2
NORTH SALINAS – 000 01X X – 1 3 3
WP: J. Eichhorn
LP: M. Papurello
