Hollister
– San Benito softball coach Scott Smith wants to make sure his
team doesn’t get overconfident about its abilities.
Hollister – San Benito softball coach Scott Smith wants to make sure his team doesn’t get overconfident about its abilities.
For the Haybalers, the defending Central Coast Section Division I softball champions, that can be one of the bigger challenges.
But after Thursday’s game – a 1-0 extra-inning victory over Alvarez – Smith is hoping the team got an up close look and what can happen if it doesn’t maintain its focus.
“I thought this was the worst game we played all year,” Smith said. “We’re really thinking we’re better than we are. I’m trying to get them to refocus.”
Sophomore pitcher Marisa Ibarra provided her typical stellar pitching. She struck out 13 over eight innings and allowed only a bloop single that deflected off shortstop Elena Fata’s glove.
But the ‘Balers gave the Eagles opportunities with three errors and they struggled to mount an attack against Alvarez pitcher Brittan Larsen, who has now dropped two straight 1-0 decisions after losing to Gilroy on Tuesday.
“I felt like we should’ve been in good shape against (Larsen),” Smith said.
But San Benito couldn’t take advantage of opportunities, leaving two runners on base in the first and six for the game.
“By the time we got to the sixth inning, I didn’t care if we lost the game,” Smith said. “Our demeanor was not the same.”
But in the bottom of the eighth inning, the ‘Balers made sure the day would still end on a positive note.
Lizzy Gatto led off with a single and scored when Lindsey Clay blasted a deep fly ball to centerfield for a triple that plated Gatto with the winning run.
While San Benito was happy with the win, Smith hopes and believes this game should shake the team up a bit and get them back playing the way they should and he will lean on the team’s five seniors to help them do so.
“The seniors have got to provide the leadership,” Smith said.
San Benito hosts Alisal at 4:30pm Tuesday before traveling to face Notre Dame at 4:30pm Thursday.
