Two of the top four softball teams in the Central Coast Section
were on display Wednesday as fourth-ranked Hollister High played
host to No. 1 Notre Dame in the final Tri-County Athletic League
match for both teams.
Two of the top four softball teams in the Central Coast Section were on display Wednesday as fourth-ranked Hollister High played host to No. 1 Notre Dame in the final Tri-County Athletic League match for both teams.
The Spirits and Balers went toe-to-toe, pitch-for-pitch for eight innings with the Spirits, ranked 13th in the United States, prevailing 1-0.
The winning run scored on a two-out smash single by Melissa Pura off a 1-1 change-up as the ball caromed off the glove of Baler third baseman Megan Smith. The ball squirted away down the line and the athletic Serena Benavente didn’t have any trouble scoring from third.
Benavente – who wrecked the Balers with a two-run double the last time the two teams played – skied a double to right-center with one out. She advanced to third on what proved to be a costly passed ball.
“Hindsight, I should have walked Pura,” said Baler coach Scott Smith. “I thought that with Jenny Maheu coming up second in the next inning, we could score a run. I didn’t want to put another baserunner on and then they might score two runs.”
The loss is nothing to be ashamed of for the Balers (20-9, 10-5). Notre Dame, ranked sixth in the state and No. 1 in Northern California, is 27-2 on the year and captured first place with a 14-1 record a remarkable four-game cushion. Spirits ace Kim Reeder is 25-1 on the season with an amazing 23 shutouts. The Balers, who won’t face the Spirits in CCS play, were held scoreless for 23 innings by Reeder and the inflappable Spirits defense in the three meetings this season.
“We’re mirror images of each other,” said Spirits coach Joe Given. “We both play solid defense and put pressure on the other teams and hope they crack. We aren’t great offensive teams. Most of the time, we can’t get three or four run cushions to put people away. We just got the clutch hit today. Reeder wasn’t on like she can be today. I knew that when I warmed her up before the game. She threw more balls than normal.”
Reeder threw 128 pitches, 81 for strikes.
“She wasn’t as consistent with her pitches as she usually is,” said Baler second baseman Jenny Maheu, who had two of the Balers’ three hits. “She made the pitches when she had to, though.”
The Balers had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. Maheu hit a line drive single to right, barely beating Chrissie Witcher’s throw to first. After stealing second, Scott Smith chose to have Julie Broyer lay a bunt down with two strikes to get Maheu to third. Broyer, for the second time in the game with two strikes, got the bunt down in fair territory as Maheu stood at third as the tying run. However, Reeder calmly got the next batter to ground out to first.
Both teams had chances to score, though none better than the Spirits in the third. Schutzler, a steal for the Tennessee Volunteers, hit a wind-blown triple down the left field line to lead off. Benavente’s hard grounder was booted in the infield as Schutzler held at third. Benavente strolled down to second base on the steal attempt. With Amy Tompkins at the plate, Given called for a squeeze as Schutzler mosied down the line at third. Megan Smith was in on the bunt possibility, so Baler shortstop Kim Dabo covered third. Baler catcher Amy Baxter’s throw to third gunned down Schutzler for the first out. Tompkins hit a hard ball to right field which had the earmarks of a run-scoring single. But Broyer fielded the ball cleanly and threw Tompkins out at first. Baler starter Dani Hernandez retired the next batter on a ground out.
Hernandez gave up three hits in 4.2 innings then gave way to Alyssa Baker (7-4). Baker set down four in a row before getting in trouble in the seventh. Reeder walked, then Teri Ann Caoagan hit a menacing liner down the right field line. Broyer sprinted over to make a fabulous catch, sprawling to the turf on a hard dive. Baker walked Alyssa Given, then a sacrifice bunt moved the runners up to second and third with two out. After Baker just missed strike three on a close 1-2 pitch to Jessica Flores, Flores hit another one-hopper to right field. Broyer, who enjoyed a stellar day, made a nice scoop and threw Flores out at first for the final out of the inning.
The Spirits flashed some leather, too. Tompkins was smooth as silk at shortstop, handling five chances without a miscue. And with two out in the first, Rachelle Barrientos let out a yell and hit a searing liner to right field. But Witcher came in to make the shoestring grab. Had the ball gone either side, Barrientos would have two, or even, three bases, it was hit that hard.
Both teams now wait ever-so patiently for Saturday’s CCS seeding meeting, which takes place at the CCS office at 1 p.m.
Baler bits: Schutzler hit a rifle shot to start the game, but the ball went right into the hands of Baler shortstop Kim Dabo for an out. – Broyer had the other Baler hit, a blooper down the right field line in the fourth. –Â The Spirits have dominated Division III of CCS, winning the title five of the past seven years. Joe Given, however, feels his club could be bumped up to Division II, depending how it all shakes out. –Â A total of three teams are added to the combined three divisions, making the total 39. – The top three seeds receive a bye until the quarterfinals, which are May 23-24. Expect the Spirits, who would be seeded No. 1 in any division, and the Balers to receive byes.
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Reeder and Flores; Hernandez, Baker (5) and Baxter. WP-Reeder (25-1). LP-Baker (7-4). 3B – Schutzler (ND). 2B – Benavente (ND). 2 hits – Pura (ND); Maheu (H).
