San Benito shut down by Mustangs ace in TCAL opener; ‘Balers
register just one hit in 2-0 defeat
The San Benito softball team took a 6-0 record into its Tri-County Athletic League opener against Gilroy yesterday, but fell victim to a tough Mustangs pitcher and an inhospitable home field.
Gilroy ace Sarah Villar kept the Haybalers off balance throughout, allowing only a sixth-inning single, to hand San Benito a 2-0 defeat on a windy afternoon.
“Villar’s a very tough pitcher,” said ‘Balers head coach Scott Smith. “She was the toughest pitcher we’ve faced.”
After scoring a combined 38 runs in its last four games, never scoring fewer than seven, San Benito (6-1, 0-1 TCAL) looked to extend its perfect start to the season. But the ‘Balers fell behind early and never got the breaks they needed to touch Villar.
Gilroy (5-1, 1-0 TCAL) pounced on ‘Balers freshman starter Marisa Ibarra in the first inning, getting a leadoff walk from Lauryn Chris, who then advanced to second on a passed ball. Mustangs shortstop Kylie Herrada followed with a single and took second on a wild pitch. Chris scored on an infield groundout by Liz Ines and then Amanda Tellez put Gilroy up 2-0 by driving in Herrada with a single to center.
“We weren’t ready,” said Smith, lamenting the ‘Balers’ early woes. “[The Mustangs] were prepared in the first inning and we weren’t. Typically in this league, if you give up two runs in the first inning, it’s going to be hard to come back.”
With the wind blowing in from right field knocking down most fly balls and Villar hitting her spots, San Benito never developed a sustained threat.
The ‘Balers’ tough-luck day was typified by Elena Fata’s at bat in the first inning. The sophomore leadoff hitter connected for what looked like a sure single up the middle, but the ball ricocheted off Villar and landed directly in front of Mustangs second baseman Chris, who threw Fata out at first.
Villar retired 11 of the first 12 ‘Balers she faced – the only blemish a hit batter in the second – and looked intent on throwing a no hitter until San Benito’s Jacqueline Clayton singled to left with one out in the sixth.
After Clayton took second on a groundout by Kristen Archuleta, ‘Balers clean-up hitter Lizzy Gatto crushed a ball to center. Ines, Gilroy’s center fielder, turned and raced toward the fence, expecting the ball to be over her head, but the wind kept the ball from carrying and Ines was able to snag it to extinguish the ‘Balers’ threat.
“On any other field, that’s a home run,” said Smith of Gatto’s blast, “but on our field, the ball just doesn’t carry.”
Clayton, San Benito’s freshman second baseman, spoke of how Villar kept Haybaler hitters under wraps.
“Her pitches were just straight strikes,” said Clayton. “You just had to get the ball she missed. [Our hitters] would go up there and know where she was going to put it. All we had to do was turn on it, but we couldn’t get around.”
Aside from the first inning, Ibarra matched her senior counterpart nearly pitch for pitch. The San Benito starter surrendered just one hit the rest of the way, a bunt single in the fifth, and never allowed another Mustang reach third base. In all, Ibarra gave up three hits and two runs in seven innings, striking out two and walking three.
Despite her strong performance, Ibarra spoke mostly of her disappointment in the decisive first inning.
“I think I could’ve come out more prepared in the beginning,” said Ibarra, a tough critic considering she was making her first TCAL start. “If I had, it would’ve been a 0-0 ballgame – a lot closer.”
As for being immersed in a pitching duel with Gilroy’s senior ace, Ibarra said, “It made the game a lot more intense. You have to be a lot more focused. You have to have your head in the game.”
Villar ran her record to 5-0 on the year with the shutout. She registered five strikeouts and walked one, punctuating the victory by a yell as she struck out Lindsey Clay to end the game.
After her team handed the ‘Balers their first loss of the season, Gilroy head coach Catherine Hallada said the Mustangs’ victory took on added importance because it was the teams’ first league game.
“It’s huge. That’s making a statement,” said Hallada of the win. “We’re out here to win and to take league. That’s just the beginning.”
In seeing their six-game winning streak end, the ‘Balers realized they can only move forward, with North Salinas set to visit Hollister on Thursday.
“We’re a little upset, but we’ve just got to get over it,” said Clayton.
The ‘Balers-Vikings contest will begin tomorrow at 3:45pm.
