Facing a team that was taking the underdog approach, San Benito
wanted to quickly eliminate any thoughts of an upset from Santa
Clara’s mind.
Hollister – Facing a team that was taking the underdog approach, San Benito wanted to quickly eliminate any thoughts of an upset from Santa Clara’s mind.
And when No. 3 hitter Kevin Medeiros unloaded on a 3-2 pitch in the first inning Wednesday and set a majestic shot flying over the left field fence for a three-run homer, the Haybalers quickly did so, and that propelled them to a 6-1 win in the first round of the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs.
“It was good to put them in an early hole and show them they don’t have a chance to win,” said Medeiros, one of five seniors making their final appearance on their home field.
No. 3 San Benito (27-8) advances to the quarterfinals, where it will face No. 6 Bellarmine Prep at 1pm Saturday at PAL Stadium in San Jose. The Bells (24-12) beat No. 11 Menlo-Atherton 3-2 to advance.
“The way we’ve been playing and pitching, I think we’ll stand a pretty good chance,” ‘Balers coach Michael Luna said of the matchup with Bellarmine. San Benito beat the Bells 12-11 earlier this season in the finals of the Serra Knights of Columbus Classic.
Junior pitcher Zach Canez had his scoreless inning streak stopped at 20 2/3, but an efficient effort produced a four-hitter and he went the distance for the win.
“Coach expects me to be his ace and I have to live up to it,” Canez said.
A flustered start to the game by Santa Clara pitcher Morgan Yee helped San Benito get the early lead. Justin Andrade was hit by his fourth pitch of the game and Kolton Klauer walked. Both runners moved up on a balk before Medeiros’ blast.
The ‘Balers made it 4-0 in the third when Brian Haggett, who laced a double to the left-center field gap in the first inning before being stranded, went to the opposite field again for a single. Sophomore catcher Kyle Zozaya followed by blasting an RBI double.
Santa Clara (16-15) got its lone run in the top of the fourth. Brett Hall led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice fly and scored on a seeing-eyed single to right by Jacob Ratliff.
The Bruins threatened again in the fifth when Andrew Dickenson roped a two-out double, but Canez got the final batter to strike out to end the inning.
In the home half of the fifth, Haggett did some damage again. The junior second baseman, who finished 3-for-3, went after a pitch low and inside, and the lefty crushed it over the right field fence for a 6-1 advantage.
“I thought we did a real good job of getting quality at-bats,” Luna said. “(Santa Clara’s) a good quality team. They’re much better than their record.”
The Bruins put a pair of runners on in the seventh. Ratliff led off with a walk and Mitch O’Donnell reached on a hard-hit single off the glove of San Benito third baseman Andrade.
But trouble was averted when Tyler Levene hit a liner right to Andrade and he gloved it and threw to second to force out the runner. Canez enduced a grounder to second for the final out.
Andrade reached base three times, Klauer reached walked twice and Zozaya walked in addition to his double.
Santa Clara 000 100 0 – 0 4 0
San Benito 301 020 x – 6 7 0
Yee, Netto (5) and Driskal. Canez and Zozaya. WP – Canez, LP – Yee.
RBI – Medeiros (SB) 3, Haggett (SB) 2, Zozaya (SB), Ratliff (SC). 2B – Haggett, Zozaya, Hall (SC), Dickenson (SC). HR – Medeiros (first inning, two on), Haggett (fifth inning, one on).
