Lady ‘Balers continue undefeated start with 8-0 romp over
Watsonville; Fata and Gatto star
Elena Fata couldn’t wait to hit. And what a good thing that turned out to be for San Benito.
The ‘Balers’ sophomore drew a good laugh from her teammates and coaches when she jumped up to the plate and stood waving her bat in the box, even though the umpire was five feet away, still sorting out a line-up change. But once play resumed, Fata’s determination paid off enormously for San Benito, as the third baseman raked a bases-loaded triple to left that drove in three runs and put the ‘Balers in front of Watsonville 4-0.
“I was just ready to go,” said Fata of the fourth-inning episode. “Bases loaded–we needed a big hit. I was just focused on getting it done.”
The bats of Fata and fellow sophomore Lizzy Gatto proved more than enough for the ‘Balers to secure their fourth consecutive win to start the season. San Benito sent the visiting Wildcatz reeling with the 8-0 outcome, the second time this year the ‘Balers have shut out Watsonville.
Fata finished 3-for-4, totaling six bases, while Gatto was 3-for-3, with three runs and three RBIs.
San Benito head coach Scott Smith was quick to point out that ‘Baler pitchers Sam Filice and Marisa Ibarra combined for quite a game as well, holding Watsonville to three hits, while striking out six and walking none.
“I think we pitched really well today,” said Smith. “[Filice] kept the ball down, got real good movement.”
The ‘Balers (4-0) took a 1-0 lead in the second when Gatto walked, stole second base and alertly scored from second base on an infield single by Fata.
The Wildcatz (4-4) came back with two singles in the bottom half of the inning, but Filice got out of the inning unscathed by inducing a double play that began with a great diving stop by shortstop Kristen Archuleta. That inning marked the only time Watsonville got multiple runners on base.
Filice spoke of the effective tandem she has formed with Ibarra, a freshman.
“We always help each other out,” said Filice. “We were hitting our spots.”
If Fata had the biggest hit of the afternoon for the ‘Balers, it was Gatto who was the constant thorn in Watsonville’s side. The right fielder started the fourth-inning outburst with a single and another stolen base, led off the fifth with a home run that rolled to the left-field fence, and added a two-run double in the sixth for good measure.
“I’ve been struggling a little with my hitting,” said Gatto. “I’ve just been working on keeping my hands in and, once I did that, it all came together.”
San Benito registered 10 hits and six walks in the game, and put its leadoff hitter on base in all but the sixth inning.
Archuleta finished 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base, and drove in Fata to complete the ‘Balers’ four-run fourth. Catcher Ashley Perreira reached base twice on walks and scored once.
Watsonville head coach Art Doten bemoaned his team’s lack of offense.
“We just didn’t get any good hits today,” said Doten. “We had a couple of good opportunities to get some runs and we just didn’t drive the ball when we needed to.”
After San Benito extended its undefeated start to the season, Fata said the win will only help as the team starts league play at Gilroy on Tuesday.
“It just gives us confidence mostly,” related Fata. “Against tough teams, we’ve got to bear down. We’re going to be ready.”
The ‘Balers return to action this Saturday when they travel to Twin Creeks in Milpitas to compete in the Tournament of Champions.
