San Benito loss to Palma jams up standings even more
Hollister – San Benito’s reign of owning sole possession of first place in the Tri-County Athletic League baseball race didn’t last long.
The Haybalers dropped a wild 12-11 decision Thursday to Palma, leaving both of those teams in a four-way logjam at the top of the league standings.
Salinas beat North Salinas 13-3 and Gilroy took care of Alvarez 10-6 to join Palma and San Benito at 5-2 in TCAL play.
“We weren’t very sharp on the bump and when you leave a mistake up, they hit the ball,” ‘Balers coach Michael Luna said of the Chieftains, who pounded out 16 hits and took advantage of three San Benito errors.
It started quietly for Palma as it was held scoreless in the first. The ‘Balers then jumped out with four runs in their half of the inning, sparked by back-to-back doubles by Zach Canez and Kolton Klauer to lead off the game.
The Chieftains came back with four in the second to tie the game, but Klauer led off the bottom of the second with a home run to regain the lead for the ‘Balers.
Palma went on top with a three spot in the third, but San Benito again got a leadoff homer in its half of the inning, this one from sophomore Kyle Zozaya, to make it a 7-6 game.
The Chieftains kept the pressure on with two in the fourth and one in the fifth to make it 10-6.
San Benito scored twice in the fifth and had a chance for more. With the bases loaded and two outs, Kevin Gonzales hit a low liner to right field, but Palma made a diving catch to end that threat.
After both teams were scoreless in the sixth, the Chieftains tacked on two key runs in the seventh to take a four-run lead.
But the ‘Balers refused to go away. Klauer led off the seventh with a single and Brian Haggett walked. Bryan Scott drove in a run with a double that put runners at second and third.
Justin Andrade singled home Haggett and moved to second when Scott baited a throw home. After a pitching change, Ronnie Fhurong grounded out to plate Scott.
Zozaya walked to put runners at the corners and with two outs and two strikes on Gonzales, he stole second with the pitcher not paying attention. Gonzales then bounced a ball toward third, where it was fielded and the tag was applied to Zozaya to end the game.
“We had our opportunities,” Luna said. “That last play was one of the many that hurt us. … The best thing is that we don’t go away. We wanted to get the tying run to the plate, and we ended up getting the winning run in scoring position. That’s all you can ask for.”
San Benito now has nine days off before it heads down to Salinas for a showdown with the only other league opponent that has beaten the ‘Balers. They will square off at 11am April 28.
