Lady ‘Balers go 2-1, fall to Salinas in the championship at the
H2Oktoberfest
HOLLISTER
Even though the Haybalers were enjoying a bye last week, it may have been another Friday night football game that deterred the San Benito girls water polo team from upending Salinas in the championship of the H2Oktoberfest tournament Saturday in Hollister.
The Lady ‘Balers defeated Carmel 6-3 and Notre Dame 9-1 to advance to the championship against Salinas, whom they defeated 7-5 on Sept. 16 in league play.
But the majority of the Lady ‘Balers played in the annual Powder Puff football game Friday, which raised money for the student activities fund at SBHS.
Needless to say, coach Hayley Vandercook’s team was pretty sore on Saturday; so sore, in fact, that one of her players was forced to sit out the tournament.
“I would much rather lose in this tournament than in TCALs,” said Vandercook, who was pleased her team helped out with the fund-raising efforts Friday night. “Next time (we play Salinas), I’m still confident.”
In the final, San Benito and Salinas sat tied at three goals apiece at halftime, but the Cowboys pulled ahead with five second-half scores.
Kelsey Russell led the Lady ‘Balers with four goals in the championship – which was “amazing,” Vandercook said, considering her much-involved role as quarterback in the Powder Puff game – while Ali Blake added another score.
San Benito is now 13-10 overall. They will return to Tri-County Athletic League play today, Tuesday, when they’ll visit Santa Catalina at 3:30 p.m., in the final game of the regular season.
The Lady ‘Balers are 4-3 in the TCAL.
