Several Baler teams have good chances to wrap up their seasons
on a winning note in playoffs that are beginning. Below is a
rundown of all the action getting started or continuing this
week.
Several Baler teams have good chances to wrap up their seasons on a winning note in playoffs that are beginning. Below is a rundown of all the action getting started or continuing this week.
Boys water polo
The boys water polo team will begin the TCALs on Wednesday at Gilroy. No. 4 San Benito will play No. 7 Monterey at 3:30 p.m. The winner will play Friday at 3:30 p.m. at Live Oak against Gilroy or Carmel. Live Oak awaits the winner Saturday at 10 a.m.
“We should be OK in the first round unless Monterey has a secret weapon we haven’t seen,” said Baler coach Tom Agan. “I am a little worried about the second round. Both Carmel and Gilroy could give us problems. If we play good water polo, we should be able to get to that game against Live Oak.”
The Balers (11-17, 3-3 TCAL) will be at full health despite an injury in the Saratoga tournament last weekend. Zach Bainter had to have 15 stitches in his lip after a brutality major. But Bainter has been cleared to play in games this week.
The Balers came in second place in the tournament after a 6-15 loss to Stephenson in the championship game. Lucas Zepeda had three goals, Joel Smith scored two and Robert Shattuck added a single goal.
San Benito started off the tournament with a 7-4 win over Saratoga. Shattuck had three goals, Zepeda had two and Sean Russell, Joel Smith and Bainter each had one.
In the second game, the Balers beat Independence 13-8 behind Zepeda’s seven goals. Joel Smith added two goals and Ben Dietrich had a goal.
Girls water polo
The girls water polo team will be starting off the TCALs today against visiting Notre Dame at 3:30 p.m. The No. 2 Balers defeated the Spirits 9-2 in the last time the teams met in Hollister. The game on Thursday and the championship on Saturday will both be in Santa Catalina.
The Balers have a full healthy team coming into the game, said coach Derek Kisling.
“We’re looking good right now,” Kisling said. “We are trying to polish everything up in practice. The girls know the season’s coming to end and now is the time step up. They know what they have to do. It is just about implementing now.”
Girls golf
The Baler girls golf team members Hillary Williams, Corryn Pacheco and Johni Kiesewetter will tee off this morning in the Central Coast Section Championships at Rancho Canada in Carmel Valley after qualifying individually.
Kiesewetter will tee off at 8:12 a.m. from hole 10. Pacheco will follow right behind her at 8:18 a.m., and Williams will begin at 8:18 a.m. at hole 1.
The golf team finished second in the league, but was not selected for an at-large berth. Only Santa Catalina out of the ten teams in the TCAL league qualified to advance as a team.
Girls tennis
San Benito will begin play in the TCALs on Wednesday at North Salinas.
The play begins after the seeding meeting at 8 a.m. The winners advance to the finals on Thursday morning at Ridgemark.
For the Balers, Jill Merrigan will go at the No. 1 singles spot, and Tiffany Davies will anchor the No. 2 position.
In doubles, Cathry Villarico and Jamie Huston are the No. 1 team, and Becky Bonner and Mary Beth Miller are the No. 2 dual.
It will be a tough task for the Balers to advance to the CCS playoffs, but coach Ed Cecena expects good matches and maybe some upsets.
“There are some pretty strong singles players out there,” Cecena said. Jill could pull off an upset. She is starting to play more aggressively, and her ground stroke is getting better. She could get hot and have a good game. The doubles teams may have a good chance. Cathry and Jamie are playing well together and could possibly have a chance to upset the higher ranked team.”
