The San Benito boys baseball team recorded a doubleheader split
at Paso Robles on Saturday.
The San Benito boys baseball team recorded a doubleheader split at Paso Robles on Saturday.
The Haybalers opened the day with an 8-4 loss after failing to capitalize on opportunities.
“Our Achilles’ heal this year has been the first inning,” said Baler coach Derek Barnes. “It has been frustrating because when you fall behind, it takes you out of your game plan. You cannot be so aggressive that you run yourself out of an inning. Guys start to press at the plate and on the field hoping to make a play, rather than playing loose.”
The Haybalers gave up three runs early after a leadoff double, a bunt single, a one-out double and a two-out single.
Paso Robles added a run in the third and three more in the fifth to pull away. The Haybalers had just four hits but hit the ball hard but right to the fielders.
Mike Lango hit a ball off the wall in the second and was driven in by a fielder’s choice by Brian Rossi. In the third, the Haybalers got within two when Travis Zanella blasted a home run to left.
The Balers got their final run in the sixth when Anthony Synegal singled in Justin Patton and then later scored on a wild pitch.
The Haybalers bounced back in the second game with a 5-3 victory. Jason Sims pitched in his first game back from basketball. Sims threw five innings, giving up two runs, striking out four.
The Haybalers were down 2-0 in the sixth inning before they rallied. Geno Fata walked. Anthony Synegal doubled him home. And with two outs, Seth Hudson tied the game with a double off the bottom of the right-field wall.
Rossi came on in relief to get the win despite giving up a run in the sixth that put Paso Robles up 3-2.
In the seventh inning, two consecutive two-out errors put runners at the corners.
Breyon Canez singled up the middle to score Fata and took second on a passed ball. Anthony Synegal smashed a two-run single to put the Balers up for good.
“This was a good win for us,” Barnes said. “We stopped our mini losing streak. We showed a lot of heart to come back. This gives us a little momentum going into league play Wednesday.”
The Balers open up at Live Oak than host Live Oak on Friday.
In the game on Thursday at Menlo, San Benito lost 9-2 after tough first and fourth innings.
