San Benito High secondbaseman J.C. Clayton leads the team in most offensive categories.

J.C. Clayton plays a huge role in the success of the Balers
Pitcher Marisa Ibarra and shortstop Elena Fata received a great
deal of the credit for the recent successes of the San Benito High
School softball team, and rightfully so.
J.C. Clayton plays a huge role in the success of the Balers

Pitcher Marisa Ibarra and shortstop Elena Fata received a great deal of the credit for the recent successes of the San Benito High School softball team, and rightfully so.

After all, both players have won league MVP awards for their outstanding play and both were instrumental in the Balers ability to win back-to-back Central Coast Section titles in 2006 and 2007.

While there is no mistaking their abilities, there is also no mistaking the abilities of their teammate, J.C. Clayton, the team’s unsung hero at second base, who has been able to shore up the right side of the infield with her alarming speed, sound fielding skills and a prowess for turning the double-play ball.

“Her speed allows me to play her all over the field,” San Benito High coach Scott Smith said. “We can play her up the middle and she still is able to get to any ball towards the first base side. She knows just what to do before the play happens. She has a strong arm and can turn the double play ball too. We get a lot of double plays because of her – and you normally don’t get many in this sport.”

As of The Pinnacle’s press time, the Balers had an overall record of 18-4 and were a perfect 5-0 in Tri County Athletic League play – good enough for a one-game lead over the Spirits of Notre Dame.

The Balers also get plenty of offensive as a result of Clayton’s uncanny knack for reaching base from the leadoff spot. Once on, she typically steals second and third, and before the opposition knows it, the Balers are able to jump out in front with early leads.

“You can see it deflate other teams when she gets on, because at some point she winds up in scoring position,” Smith said. “She gets on base all of the time. If they throw to her and let her hit, she is so proficient at finding the hole. She can place the ball anywhere. If the outfield moves in, she’ll hit for power. If the infield plays back, she can bunt her way on. She always finds a way to get on.”

Currently, Clayton’s on-base percentage is .740. She is batting .535 in league and .480 overall after starting the season slow. She also leads the Balers in both hits and triples and is near the top in every other offensive category where stats are kept. Those numbers are more amazing, considering the fact that Clayton, who is now a junior, started her high school career batting from the right side.

“We let her bat right-handed when she was a freshman because we needed power in the lineup. Then we put her in as a lefty her sophomore year and never looked back,” Smith said.

And now that she’s used to hitting from the left side, her natural power is coming back; and having the extra step to first has made throwing her out nearly impossible – even on routine grounders.

So far this season Clayton has hit three homeruns batting from the left side, two coming in key showdowns with Notre Dame.

“She just has a knack for doing what she needs to do,” Smith said. “She a triple threat up there. She leads off so many games for us with a solid base hit. That’s what really pumps us up and jump starts our team.”

This season, Clayton has only struck out twice in nearly 100 at bats. In addition to batting from the right side to start her high school campaign, Clayton initially played third base before being moved over to second. And had the Balers’ shortstop position not already been filled by Fata, the league’s reigning MVP, Clayton probably would have shifted from third to shortstop her sophomore season. Now Smith is thrilled to have the luxury of having two outstanding hitters and defensive players in the gut of the infield.

“As quick as they both are, they make things extremely tough up the middle for other teams,” Smith said. “Some of the plays that J.C. makes don’t show up in the stats sheet but she’s a major reason why we haven’t given up any runs this year in league. Marisa hasn’t always had her best stuff this year but J.C.’s ability to play behind first base and pick up the double-play ball has taken a lot of pressure off Marisa, and allowed us to push Elena up the middle. We call it pinching to the middle of the infield, and we are able to do that because both of them have great speed.”

Previous article‘Balers tighten grasp in TCAL
Next article‘Balers drop first game in TCAL
A staff member wrote, edited or posted this article, which may include information provided by one or more third parties.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here