SAN JOSE—During its eight-year run of Central Coast Section Division I playoff championships, the San Benito High softball team had never been so close to seeing defeat.
Until Tuesday.
That’s when Leland High right fielder Ally Kido threw out the Haybalers’ fastest runner—Britnee Rossi, who was representing the potential go-ahead run—in a bang-bang play at home plate to end the top of the seventh inning to keep the score tied at 1-1 in a taut Division I semifinal.
In the bottom half of the inning, Mikhaila Talaugon reached on a leadoff double, and the No. 2 seed Chargers eventually loaded the bases with two out and Kido up to bat. It was at that point when even longtime Balers coach Scott Smith had visions of seeing the program’s spectacular run coming to an end.
“I was really nervous for us at that point,” Smith said. “I told Leo Ibarra (assistant coach) what an inning for her (Kido), and maybe it was just meant to be (a Leland win), and we can’t do anything about it. At that point we would’ve shook her hand and said, ‘Great job.’”
But the Balers haven’t won eight consecutive D-I titles for nothing. Showing why they’re the premier program in the section, Balers ace Adriana Ibarra got Kido out on a fielder’s choice to get of the jam.
Moments later in the top of the eighth, Ibarra hit a two-run home run to dead center, and Callee Heen followed with a solo shot in leading San Benito to a nail-biting 4-3 win at Police Activities League Stadium.
The No. 3 seed Balers (23-3-1) play the winner of Thursday’s semifinal between No. 1 Carlmont (25-3) and No. 5 Wilcox (22-7) on Saturday at PAL Stadium at a time to be determined for the D-I championship.
A victory would give the Balers nine consecutive titles, which would tie the section record set by Notre Dame-Salinas from 1998-2006, when it won nine consecutive D-III championships.
If San Benito continues its historic run, it will look back to its semifinal game as the one that nearly ended its championship chase. With no out, the Balers were 120 feet from defeat.
With two out, they were 90 feet from losing. Somehow, someway, they found a way to win, just like they’ve done in the postseason for the last eight years. This was one just a little bit too close for comfort.
“It just shows the heart and perseverance the kids have,” Smith said. “I can’t say enough about this team. They stayed composed at the end and made the plays when they had to, and it showed a lot.”
Indeed, even after home runs by Ibarra and Heen—it was her 13th round-tripper of the season—in the top of the eighth, San Benito had to fend off a Leland charge in the bottom half. The Chargers’ Lindsey Calcany-Blair hit a two-run homer with no out to make it 4-3, and once again things were getting downright scary for the Balers.
“At that point, 4-3, I’m ready to go home. I didn’t want to watch the end of it. I’m just scared to death out there,” Smith said.
Said Ibarra: “I definitely was nervous and second-guessing myself.”
But the junior left-hander came through when it counted the most—just like she’s done for her entire high school career—and closed things out by inducing a groundout and two strikeouts.
“That was definitely a tough win,” said Ibarra, who allowed eight hits in going the distance. “I have to credit Callee and (third baseman) Isha (Gonzalez). They’re my rock right now.”
Indeed, whenever Ibarra faced a critical jam, Heen would visit the pitcher’s circle and say something to Ibarra to get her back in her comfort zone.
“After that seventh inning, Callee told me, ‘See, it was meant to be,’” Ibarra said. “That relaxed me a lot.”
For a number of reasons, Tuesday’s semifinal will go down as one of the most memorable postseason contests in San Benito history. The game featured four home runs—Suzy Brookshire gave the Balers a 1-0 lead when she homered in the second inning, her eighth of the season—which was all the more impressive considering the fence at PAL Stadium is 230 feet away from home plate.
“I’ve been coaching for 15 years, and I’ve seen two balls hit out of here before today,” Smith said. “To see four balls hit out of here today (was pretty incredible). I don’t know, I wanted to check the balls. I felt for Callee, because I think she hit three balls today that would’ve gone out of a normal park. Adriana hit two balls that (normally) would’ve been home runs.”
Ibarra, who had two of the team’s six hits, did a magnificent job of bending but not breaking while in the circle. She stranded eight Leland runners, showing a Houdini-like touch when the Chargers had runners on base.
Even when it seemed like the Balers were on the verge of defeat, they simply willed themselves to victory. The Balers actually have been involved in plenty of one-run decisions in the playoffs since they started on their current streak of titles in 2006, but Tuesday’s victory was remarkable in how it unfolded.
Never before had San Benito been so close to defeat, with the opposing team having the last at-bat with the potential game-winning run at second base with no out.
“I felt like this could be Leland’s year to beat us, and I think we were very fortunate to come out with a win today,” Smith said. “But our kids made tremendous plays when they had to.”
And because of that, the San Benito softball dynasty continues.
