San Benito softball team lands high ranking after winning
first-ever CCS title
Hollister – The accolades keep coming in for the San Benito softball team. After winning the school’s first-ever softball championship last month, the Lady ‘Balers finished No. 12 in the final state rankings released by CalHiSports.com Wednesday.
“Wow,” San Benito head coach Scott Smith said when reached with the news. “It’s a tremendous honor.”
The ‘Balers finished a remarkable 29-3, setting San Benito records for both most wins and fewest losses in a season, and topped Watsonville for the Central Coast Section Division I championship on May 27.
“I try to keep grounded on where our team ranks,” Smith said, “but (with) a lot of hard work our team has done over the last eight years and with the Hollister Heat, it’s deserved. … The school, the community, the practices put in, it’s nice to see we’re rewarded finally. It’s another milestone for our high school.”
Two other CCS teams finished directly in front of San Benito in the final rankings. Archbishop Mitty, the section’s Division II champion, was slotted 10 th. Notre Dame (Salinas), the CCS Division III champion and the ‘Balers’ Tri-County Athletic League rival, finished No. 11.
San Benito handed the eventual TCAL champion Spirits their only league loss in a 3-0 decision on May 9, but finished runner-up with a 10-2 league record.
Three other CCS teams landed in the state’s top-50. Carlmont, San Benito’s semifinal victim, finished No. 28, while Presentation and Valley Christian (San Jose) were ranked No. 29 and No. 32, respectively.
In the Division I rankings released by CalHiSports.com, San Benito finished No. 9.
