Girls’ tennis claims TCAL doubles
Amanda Marshall and Abbie Woods, who were San Benito’s No. 1 and
No. 2 singles players this season, respectively, teamed up to claim
the doubles championship Tuesday at the Tri-County Athletic League
Tournament in Salinas when they defeated Cowboys Lily O’Mary and
Shelby Weber 6-4, 6-2 in the doubles final.
Girls’ tennis claims TCAL doubles
Amanda Marshall and Abbie Woods, who were San Benito’s No. 1 and No. 2 singles players this season, respectively, teamed up to claim the doubles championship Tuesday at the Tri-County Athletic League Tournament in Salinas when they defeated Cowboys Lily O’Mary and Shelby Weber 6-4, 6-2 in the doubles final.
“It seems like they got better with each match,” said coach Ed Cecena, who moved Marshall and Woods to doubles in order to compete with the strength of Salinas’ lineup at the TCAL Tournament.
“They played real well in the championship match,” Cecena added. “They picked it up, hit some big shots and they won it pretty easily.”
Salinas finished undefeated as a team this year and won the TCAL title as a result, an accolade they split with San Benito last season. On Tuesday, Cowboy Teagan Seeley ended up winning the singles bracket.
Marshall and Woods will now have two weeks off until the CCS Championships, which will be held at the Los Gatos Swim and Racket Club on Nov. 24.
San Benito girls’ water polo
The San Benito Lady Balers moved one step closer to successfully defending its Tri-County Athletic League championship on Tuesday when it defeated No. 7 Santa Catalina 8-4 in the opening round of the TCAL Tournament in Monterey.
Kelsey Russell, Ali Blake and Ronnie Stern each had multi-goal games for the Lady Balers, which are now 14-10 overall.
San Benito, which was rewarded the No. 5 seed after compiling a 5-3 record in the TCAL, played the winner between No. 4 Carmel and No. 6 Notre Dame on Thursday.
San Benito cross country
It was not the way the San Benito cross country team wanted to finish the Tri-County Athletic League season, of course, as the Baler boys finished runner-up to Salinas (37-68) and the girls finished in second behind Gilroy (31-44) Saturday at the TCAL Championships at Toro Park last Saturday.
But if there is any silver lining to Saturday’s events, it’s the sense of urgency instilled within the Haybalers. They may have finished second at TCALs, but they will have a second chance in two weeks at the Central Coast Section Championships – the boys another look at Salinas, the girls another shot at Gilroy.
Frankie Rivera finished first for the boys, fourth overall, at 16:49, while Courtney Allen was first for the girls, second overall, at 19:16.
San Benito Football
Although the San Benito out-gained Salinas in total offense by a 133 to 109 margin last Friday – and even prevented the Cowboys from completing a single pass all game – the Haybalers simply couldn’t find the end zone and eventually fell 6-0 at Andy Hardin Stadium in Hollister.
Cowboy Kody Fudena provided the only scoring when he booted field goals of 45 and 24 yards to secure the win.
San Benito, at 1-3 in the TCAL, will host Palma Friday.
“Now it’s about playing for pride,” head coach Chris Cameron said. “Hopefully, we can keep coming out and playing hard on a daily basis, playing hard on Friday night for the next two weeks. That’s what it’s all about right now.”
