It was a high-water mark Tuesday for the Hollister High softball
team as it whitewashed Salinas on the road 8-0.
It was a high-water mark Tuesday for the Hollister High softball team as it whitewashed Salinas on the road 8-0.
Not only was it the most runs in one game for the Balers (20-8, 10-4 Tri-County Athletic League) all season, the Balers racked up a season-best in hits with 14.
Hopefully, the second place Balers saved a few runs and hits for today’s matchup with first place Notre Dame (27-2, 13-1) at 4 p.m. The game was moved up a day due to the Spirits having a school function.
Notre Dame is ranked 13th in the United States and first in the Central Coast Section. The Balers, who are a game ahead of third place North Salinas, moved up a notch to No. 4 in this week’s CCS polls. A win today could possibly move the Balers into the state rankings. Baler head coach Scott Smith is well aware of the magnitude of today’s game.
“I told my girls yesterday that if we beat Notre Dame, we’ll finish second in the league by ourselves, something that has never been done,” said Smith, who was not counting the old days in the weaker Mission Trail Athletic League. “I like the way we’re playing right now. We’re swinging the bat a lot better, pitching better and playing better defense. The girls stay calm no matter what the score is.”
On Tuesday, Alyssa Baker pitched six innings and Dani Hernandez worked the seventh to combine for a one-hitter. Baker yielded a single in the first inning and that was it for the Cowboys (13-14, 4-10).
Kim Dabo was the hitting star with 3 hits in 4 trips, including a triple and two runs scored. Jenny Maheu had two bunt singles and scored twice for the Balers, while Amy Baxter went 2-3. Rachelle Barrientos, moved up to No. 3 in the order in a bit of a lineup shakeup by Smith, had a double and two RBI’s. Liz Stewart donated a double.
The 20 wins for the Balers is one short of its all-time best for a season, which was 21 victories the past two years. The Balers won 19 games in 2000.
The CCS pairings will be determined Saturday at 1 p.m. Hollister, especially if it wins today, will most likely be seeded No. 1 in Division I and earn a bye to the quarterfinals, which are May 23-24.
