There was no celebration. No dogpile on the mound. No Gatorade
shower for head coach Michael Luna.
Hollister – There was no celebration. No dogpile on the mound. No Gatorade shower for head coach Michael Luna. Just the usual round of high-fives and slaps on the back.
Despite clinching at least a share of the Tri-County Athletic League championship with its 9-1 pasting of Salinas on Monday, the San Benito baseball team went about its post-game routine just as it had on 21 previous occasions this season. And for good reason.
“There’s one more game to go – that’s why,” said ‘Balers shortstop Sky Valenzuela, referring to tomorrow’s showdown with second-place Palma. “We know what we have to do. We have to finish it right.”
A San Benito victory in its regular season finale against the Chieftains or a loss by Palma in any of its remaining three TCAL games would leave the ‘Balers as outright champions. As it stands, the Haybalers (22-4, 15-2 TCAL) have already clinched the league’s No. 1 seed for the upcoming Central Coast Section playoffs, a key distinction for a favorable seed in the 16-team, Division I field.
If the ‘Balers didn’t celebrate like champions on Monday, they certainly played like them. Jumping to a 4-0 lead after its first at-bat and an 8-0 advantage by the end of the second inning, San Benito gave starter Ryan McFall all the breathing room in the world. Not that the senior needed it.
Knowing that the ‘Balers need a solid second starter, behind ace Breyon Canez, to make an extended run in CCS, McFall has taken it on himself to be that person.
“I’ve been wanting that the whole year,” McFall said.
And his performance against Salinas continued to suggest that he is up to the task. Scattering six hits over his six innings, McFall efficiently worked his way through the Cowboys’ lineup, never putting himself in a position to be victimized by a big inning. The right-hander struck out five and walked one, allowing Salinas’ only run in the third.
Luna, the San Benito coach, said McFall’s effort bodes very well for the ‘Balers’ postseason chances.
“Every time he goes out there, he’s pitching with more and more confidence,” Luna said. “He wants the ball. Ryan McFall is going to have to be … the key for us to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs.”
Pitching aside, San Benito hopes its offense continues the output that the team has ridden to so many lopsided victories. After overwhelming Sobrato 12-4 on Friday, the ‘Balers again jumped to a quick lead against Salinas.
After Cowboys starter Jared Roland hit San Benito right fielder Josh Torrise with a pitch to lead off the game, No. 2 hitter Canez doubled off the centerfield wall, sending Torrise to third. Karson Klauer put the ‘Balers up 1-0 with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Torrise, and then clean-up hitter Brian Haggett followed with an RBI groundout.
With the bases clear and two outs, Salinas seemed ripe to get out of the inning with no further damage, but an outfield error allowed ‘Balers catcher Travis Ross to reach second base, and then Valenzuela singled him home. Before Roland could retire the side, San Benito sent 10 batters to the plate and pushed across one more run, taking an early 4-0 lead.
Proving that they are opportunistic as well, the ‘Balers scored four more in the second, despite not recording a hit in the inning. Six walks and a hit batter, spread over three different Salinas pitchers, removed any doubt about the game’s outcome.
After being credited with an RBI in each of his first two plate appearances simply by watching eight balls pass by him, San Benito center fielder Jacob Boyd said patience was definitely a virtue for his team.
“Our mindset was just to get on base and score,” said Boyd, who finished 1-for-2 with 2 walks and 2 RBIs. “We’ve got to stay patient and just get our pitch. We’re a good hitting team when it’s in the zone. When we go out of the zone and chase, it’s a tough position to hit in.”
Salinas scored its only run after Jo Jo Hernandez led off the third with a single. Following a single by catcher Peter Estes and a wild pitch that advanced both runners, sophomore Keith Mallett drove in Hernandez with a sacrifice fly to center. McFall recovered to strike out the next two batters.
Sophomore Zach Canez completed the game by pitching the seventh for the ‘Balers, notching two strikeouts.
Valenzuela, who has returned to shortstop after an arm injury forced him into a designated-hitter role in the midseason, had a flawless day at the plate. The senior completed the front three legs of the cycle after his double in the third and triple in the sixth. Valenzuela finished 3-for-3 with 2 runs, 2 RBIs and a walk. Canez was the only other ‘Baler with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with 2 runs.
San Benito now turns its attention to the showdown with Palma. The ‘Balers defeated the Chieftains in the teams’ two previous meetings, 15-5 and 6-2. Completing the season sweep tomorrow in Hollister would hand San Benito its first outright TCAL title since 2003.
After Palma’s 5-1 defeat of Sobrato on Monday, the Chieftains stand at 12-3 in TCAL play. If Palma were to lose in its contest at Gilroy today, San Benito would garner the championship and render tomorrow’s game meaningless in terms of the standings. Nevertheless, Luna said the ‘Balers’ mission would remain the same.
“I want to sweep ’em,” the San Benito coach said. “I want to leave no doubt that we were the best team this year.”
After witnessing his team’s shellacking at the hands of the ‘Balers, Salinas head coach Art Hunsdorfer said that argument had already been settled.
“This year, Hollister is by far the best team,” Hunsdorfer said. “They’re well-coached and they’ve got some great ballplayers. They’re ready. They’re ready to take (the championship).”
Palma would gain a share of the TCAL title with wins against the Mustangs, the ‘Balers and North Salinas on Friday, but McFall said San Benito is determined to prevent that from happening.
“We want that one by ourselves,” McFall said of the championship. “Palma’s not getting anything.”
