San Benito capitalizes on 17 free bases from Salinas in 12-2
win
Hollister
San Benito manager Michael Luna touted the depth he had in the pitching department at the start of the season. He believed the 10 arms he possessed, coupled with the first part of the league schedule when the Haybalers were playing three games a week, would only tilt the arrow in San Benito’s favor.
It did.
But with the Tri-County Athletic League schedule scaled down for the last six games, where each team only plays twice a week, the ‘Balers are proving just how deep their pitching staff is, especially when compared to the competition.
Taking advantage of 12 base on balls and five hit-batsmen by four Salinas pitchers, the ‘Balers exploded for nine runs in the fifth and sixth innings alone, and defeated the visiting Cowboys 12-2 in a shortened six-inning contest.
San Benito improved to 14-1 in the TCAL behind four innings from reliever Jacob Eichhorn, who allowed just three hits and one run to pick up the win.
The game, which saw San Benito up 3-2 heading to the fifth inning, was called due to the 10-run rule.
“We only have a two-game lead over Palma,” said Eichhorn of the win, “so it was pretty big.”
With first place in the TCAL still yet to be decided, Luna felt the game was a must-win as well, considering San Benito’s narrow lead over the second-place Chieftains.
San Benito’s magic number, however, which indicates how close the ‘Balers are to clinching the league title, is now two. Any San Benito victory or Palma defeat will reduce the magic number.
“We’re two-time defending champs. We want to make it three in a row,” Luna said. “Not only are we fighting for a league title, but we want to get the highest possible seed.”
While the Central Coast Section only takes into account a team’s last 22 games of the season, San Benito is currently 19-3 during that stretch. Luna feels that if his Haybalers can win-out their remaining three games, not only is a TCAL title in hand, but perhaps a No. 1 seed as well.
The ‘Balers’ main competition for that seed would be Valley Christian and Serra.
Getting to that point, though, would mean wins over North Salinas, Gilroy and Everett Alvarez -the three remaining teams on San Benito’s schedule.
With plenty of pitchers on their staff, San Benito will certainly have the numbers during their title push, and Wednesday’s game with Salinas was no different.
Luna said starting pitcher Miles Sanchez (2 IP, 6 hits, 1 run, 1 K) looked fantastic in his pregame warm-up, although the game was delayed 15 minutes at the start due to a lack of umpires.
“And I think that may have hurt him,” Luna said. “What he had in the bullpen he couldn’t bring to the mound. He’s gonna get the ball again. It was just one of those days.”
After giving up a run in the first inning, the ‘Balers tied it in the bottom half when Ronnie Fhurong connected on a sacrifice fly that scored Zach Canez from third base.
The ‘Balers would then score seven of their next 11 runs on either a bases-loaded walk or a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, a stretch that helped provide San Benito with a six-run fifth inning.
It was Nathan Hopkins’ suicide squeeze, though, that got the scoring started in the fifth. The Hollister third baseman laid a perfect bunt down the left side of the infield, scoring Abel Jacquez from third, while Kyle Zozaya connected on a two-run single down the third baseline later in the inning.
Zozaya, who later had an RBI single in the sixth, was 3-for-5 on the day with three RBIs. Brian Haggett was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored, and Canez was 2-for-4 with one RBI and three runs scored.
Kevin Burley and Spencer Brann provided the only extra-base hits for the ‘Balers, as each smacked doubles in the contest.
Eichhorn, who graded himself a ‘B,’ allowed his only run in the fourth. Said Luna, “It didn’t seem like he had confidence in his stuff in that inning. The way his ball moves, he just needs to get it closer to the plate and guys will swing at the ball.”
Although Eichhorn said he was wild, he was good enough to hold the third-place Cowboys (10-5 TCAL, 19-8) to just two runs.
“[Luna] was just telling me that you’re throwing it like you’re not wanting it,” Eichhorn said. “After that, I just started throwing better.”
San Benito will play at North Salinas Friday. First pitch is at 4 p.m.
SAL 100 100 X – 2 9 1
SB 120 063 X – 12 10 1
LAST WEEK:
San Benito defeated Alisal last Tuesday 20-1.
JV Note:
The San Benito junior varsity squad beat visiting Salinas Wednesday 9-0.
