San Benito set for Thursday’s showdown against Salinas
San Benito’s showdown Thursday against Salinas just became a lot more interesting.
The Haybalers rolled to their 20th victory of the season Tuesday with an 11-0 win over North Salinas, then learned of a Cowboys’ 2-1 win over previously unbeaten Notre Dame.
That leaves San Benito, Salinas and Notre Dame deadlocked at the top of the Tri-County Athletic League with 5-1 records.
“We’ve played Salinas tough all along and they’re well-coached. This is a great challenge for us,” San Benito coach Scott Smith said of Thursday’s 4:30pm home game. “We’ll approach this like an opening (Central Coast Section) playoff game. I think we’ll play our best game against (Salinas).”
Red-hot Elena Fata kicked off the scoring spree for the ‘Balers (20-2 overall) when she blasted a home run over the fence in left field in the first inning for a 1-0 lead.
Katrina Ibarra and Lizzy Gatto joined Fata in getting the power game going. Ibarra blasted one over the fence as part of a 2 for 2 day and Gatto crushed one into the gap and raced around for an inside-the-park homer.
San Benito didn’t have any breakthrough innings, but a steady attack led to the rout. The ‘Balers scored in every inning but the sixth and capped it with a three-run seventh.
Fata finished 3 for 5 with four RBIs, adding a single and a double to her first-inning home run. JC Clayton went 2 for 5 with three RBIs and Jordan Lee went 2 for 3 with a pair of singles.
While she still isn’t 100 percent as she recovers from a more than weeklong illness, sophomore pitcher Marissa Ibarra was on her game. She faced just one batter over the minimum and didn’t allow a hit until there was one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.
That baserunner was quickly eliminated on a double play. Ibarra struck out six and walked one over seven innings.
“She pitched really well, I think she’s feeling better,” Smith said. “From the fourth inning on, she had her velocity back, had her rise ball back. I think she’s getting stronger – just in time.”
San Benito entered this contest on the heels of a tournament championship at the Mission City Invitational, but a sluggish effort in the title game had Smith concerned. But after a strong showing at practice Monday, the ‘Balers coach was confident his team was ready for an important stretch run in TCAL play.
“We had a long talk (Monday) and just talked about what expectations were,” Smith said. “Then we probably had the best effort I had seen at a practice. I definitely think we’re finally figuring it out.”
San Benito 1 1 2 310 3 – 11 15 1
North Salinas 000 000 0 – 0 1 1
