San Benito wins fourth game in a row with 7-1 victory
The San Benito baseball team kept North Salinas winless in the Tri-County Athletic League with a 7-1 victory in Salinas on Tuesday.
The victory was San Benito’s fourth in a row and clinches a .500 overall record needed to qualify for the Central Coast Section playoffs.
On Thursday, the Balers (15-12, 7-6 TCAL) will play Salinas, who is the only league team they haven’t beaten this year.
“We really wanted to see if we could run the table in the second half to see if we could make the playoffs,” said coach Derek Barnes.
The Balers could still overtake Live Oak or Gilroy for third place, but they will need some help.
San Benito was 3-6 in league going into the second half but was able to turn it around to make a strong push for the playoffs. The team is over .500 for the first time this season.
“Anything is possible if we do our part,” Barnes said. “Our goal all along has been to make the playoffs. We just started loosening up. They forgot that baseball is a game, and it is supposed to be fun.”
Jason Sims pitched all seven innings for the Balers. He struck out 13 and gave up three hits.
Breyon Canez went 3 for 4 with four RBIs, and Karson Klauer went 3 for 4 with an RBI. The Haybalers made the most of five errors to take a big lead early.
San Benito scored two runs in the first. Gabe Gaitan scored on a hit by Klauer, and Canez scored on a fielder’s choice.
The Balers added two more runs in the second inning. Drew Quintana reached on error, and Seth Hudson walked. With two out, Canez had a two-run single.
In the fourth inning, Hudson reached on a fielder’s choice. Scott Mead executed a hit and run to put runners on at first and third. Mead stole second base, and Canez came up with another two-run single.
The Balers scored their final run in the sixth. Salinas scored its lone run in the fourth inning on a fielder’s choice.
JV Note: The San Benito JV team put together a 16-hit slugfest to defeat the Vikings, 15-1.
The Haybalers (18-6, 8-5 TCAL) scored runs in every inning and capped the scoring with five in the fifth inning. Brenden Flaherty (1-1) pitched the entire five innings of the shortened game, striking out six while giving up just two hits.
Flaherty also got it done offensively, going 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs.
Art Esparza went 3 for 3 and had a pair of RBIs. Kyle Ferguson and Francisco Anaya both had two hits. Other Balers with a hit each were Jacob Boyd, Ryan McFall, Travis Ross, Josh Torrise, Dean Wilkins and Josh Garcia.
Frosh Note: The freshman team defeated Harbor 5-2 on the road. The loss was Harbor’s second loss of the season.
San Benito (12-4, 8-4 TCAL) had 10 hits in the game. Michael Garcia, Jason Andrade and Kevin Maderos combined to give up just two hits. Maderos hit a double, Steve Larson had two singles and a double and Michael Garcia had two singles.
