‘Baler varsity defeats alumni, 17-3, in P.J. Galvan Alumni
Classic
Hollister – By game’s end, the score had become irrelevant. The P.J. Galvan Alumni Classic was about much more than winners and losers.
Though the San Benito High School varsity baseball team defeated the school’s alumni team 17-3 on Saturday night, the game marked a celebration of the sport and the ‘Baler family.
The third annual classic, named in honor of the former ‘Baler tragically killed in an auto accident in 2003, brought together players from four different decades of San Benito hardball on an evening when the scales tipped toward the fountain of youth.
Blowing past the alumni’s early lead with ease, the varsity showed that it’s still riding high from its 2006 Tri-County Athletic League championship and 24-5 overall record. A six-run third-inning rally, highlighted by Doug Conte’s solo home run and later two-run single, gave the varsity all the runs it would need.
But Michael Luna, the second-year varsity head coach, said the real winner was the ‘Baler baseball family.
“It gives the alums and everyone involved with San Benito baseball the chance to share some good times with each other,” said Luna, who never met Galvan, but was proud to carry on the tradition. “The game was all about honoring P.J. Galvan and his name. I just heard so many good things about him as a baseball player and as a person.
“He had so much respect for the game and went after the game the way all coaches want their players to. He just had a very positive attitude toward the game and life in general, and it rubbed off on a lot of people.”
Eric Diaz Jr. (’03), the Hartnell College star who won Pitcher of the Year honors in the Coast Conference and NorCal, staked the alums to a 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the first. But the alumni’s 20-deep batting order struggled to mount much more offense against the varsity’s arms.
Ryan McFall (’06) started for the varsity and threw three innings. Conte (’06) and Kevin Medeiros (’07) each followed with two-inning stints, and left-hander Breyon Canez (’06) threw the final frame in the abbreviated eight-inning contest.
Karson Klauer, who shared TCAL Most Valuable Player honors with Canez, hammered a two-run home run over the trees in leftfield in the fifth.
“It was a very impressive shot,” Luna said. “The ball got out of the park in probably about two seconds.”
The alums’ Dave Ortiz (’72) showed just how deep-rooted Hollister’s baseball roots lie, taking on players more than 30 years his junior.
San Benito assistant coach Curtis Heen spoke of an evening to remember for the community.
“It was a good turnout and good support from everyone there,” Heen said. “It’s a fun atmosphere. It’s that unique atmosphere that comes from a one-high school, smaller town. They’ll always have that unique tie.”
In a pre-game home run hitting contest, Brian Rossi (’05) edged out Travis Ross (’06) in the final, 2-1. Other highlights from the derby included Craig Klauer (’82), father of Karson (’06) and Kolton (’07), knocking four home runs in the second round.
