Best moments in high school sports
As with any sports season, there are those singular moments that
stay with you, regardless of what happens during the rest of the
season. It’s not necessarily the game-winning shot or the
last-ditch effort that sends the contest to overtime. Actually,
it’s usually the moments that precede or follow those specific
events. It’s like how Giants fans will remember David Tyree’s
helmet catch at midfield, more than the Plaxico Burress corner
touchdown catch that eventually led to the Super Bowl victory in
February.
Best moments in high school sports
As with any sports season, there are those singular moments that stay with you, regardless of what happens during the rest of the season. It’s not necessarily the game-winning shot or the last-ditch effort that sends the contest to overtime. Actually, it’s usually the moments that precede or follow those specific events. It’s like how Giants fans will remember David Tyree’s helmet catch at midfield, more than the Plaxico Burress corner touchdown catch that eventually led to the Super Bowl victory in February.
Believe it or not, I’m not trying to sound cheesy. But there are certain moments to every sports season that, when they happen, you realize you’re witnessing something special.
Here’s the top three moments from San Benito and Anzar High this past sports season, as voted on by myself. Enjoy.
3. It was technically an upset, but when you look back at what the Anzar girls soccer team was coming from, you quickly realized the outcome really didn’t matter. It was the Central Coast Section D-III girls’ soccer game, and No. 9 Stevenson defeated No. 8 Anzar 2-1. Afterward, during their postgame talk, tears were not in short order.
After all it was, without a doubt, the greatest girls soccer season in Anzar school history. They were the first team to make it to the postseason, and they finished with a 9-1-2 record in the Coastal Athletic League. Although Anzar usually fielded middle-of-the-pack teams in the Mission Trail Athletic League, their inclusion into the CAL last season vaulted them to their best season yet, and a CCS bid as well. Standing amongst the players postgame, I remember one player – and I unfortunately cannot remember her name – speak openly, battling tears, on how this was the best team she’s been on.
“This was our goal and we accomplished our goal, for sure,” coach Deric McLean said of the CCS bid at the time. “This should be a whole lot of positive girls … Heads are up.” Despite the loss, heads were up. And if they weren’t, McLean certainly broke it open by suggesting a postgame-meal, namely, that Pebble Beach delicacy, Costco dogs.
2. When the San Benito softball team defeated rival Gilroy 3-2 on a walk-off hit by JC Clayton during the regular season, I really didn’t foresee any team beating them in the CCS playoffs. Although one could make the argument that San Benito got a little complacent toward the later innings in that game, subsequently leaving the door open for Gilroy to nab a 2-1 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh, they certainly made up for it with their final three outs.
I feel like I’ve written about this game plenty of times before. In fact, I have. But that should say something. One can’t state how badly Gilroy wanted this game. They hadn’t beaten San Benito in their last six tries dating back to March 21 of 2006, and with 10 seniors, one last win over their rival would have been a senior gift to remember.
Baler Jessica Vest, who tied the game at 2-all in the seventh on an RBI double, said after the game, “[Manager Scott Smith] just said that close games are good, but he’d like to stay away from them.”
San Benito won the remainder of their games, including the CCS championship over Gilroy, by four runs or more. The moment came right after Clayton’s walk-off, though. In what was a stark contrast of the two teams, Gilroy was noticeably bummed, and San Benito was calm, cool and collected. It was certainly a tough loss for the Mustangs, but the Lady Balers, as a team, have been in nearly every situation over the last three years, and pressure doesn’t seem to necessarily register anymore.
1. I think for some, when the San Benito girls basketball team made it to the CCS championship game against Carlmont, that was enough. But when they took a 12-point lead to the half against the top-seeded team and the defending champion Scots, suddenly, amazingly, winning was everything.
While San Benito eventually held on for a 54-43 triumph, the moment came at halftime. Elena Fata, who sunk three 3-pointers over the course of the game, nailed another trey as time expired at the half. Although her release came after the buzzer sounded, making the shot void, coach David Kaplansky, noticeably thrilled with his team’s comfortable lead, sprinted off the court and led a jubilant charge toward the locker room.
There was no need to question whether the 3-pointer was good or not. Everything the coaching staff preached was employed by the team and working, no less. It’s truly difficult to describe how excited Kaplansky was that night for those who weren’t in attendance, but for a team that was one year removed from an 8-15 season, Kaplansky’s spirited charge was warranted.
“Coming into this tournament, I knew we had a great chance to get to this game,” Kaplansky said afterward. “The way we did it is what I’m overwhelmed by.”
