Amy Baxter thought she was following orders. Hollister High head
softball coach Scott Smith, coaching at third base in the top of
the ninth, was just messing with his cap.
MORGAN HILL – Amy Baxter thought she was following orders. Hollister High head softball coach Scott Smith, coaching at third base in the top of the ninth, was just messing with his cap.
Whatever the communique, Baxter, thanks to an errant pickoff on her delayed steal from second, came home with the winning run The Balers nipped Live Oak 2-1 Thursday at Community Park in Morgan Hill in a blustery, yet exciting, Tri-County Athletic League which lasted nine innings. All three runs on the day were unearned.
The Balers (6-1, 1-0) will find out just how good they are next Tuesday when they tangle with one of the best teams in the state in North Salinas (7-1, 1-0). The Vikings, who have one of the best pitchers in the state in Monica Abbott, edged Notre Dame 1-0 in 10 innings Thursday.
“We’re probably going to have to hold North Salinas scoreless to win,” said Smith. “We have some girls hitting the ball. We just have to string a few hits together and play solid defense. We can do it.”
The Acorns (3-5, 0-1) hurt themselves with four errors, but that could have been attributed to the wind, which blew strongly back into home plate and the first base line.
“I think some of them were environmently induced,” said Live Oak coach Barry McDonnell.
The Balers won this one by hook and by crook. Baxter singled off the third baseman’s glove to lead off the ninth against Acorns crafty hurler Jackie Jacob (3-3). Jacob whiffed the next Baler batter, but Shelbi Dillon lined the first pitch she saw into right field for a single with Baxter stopping at second. After Jacob struck out the next hitter, Smith inserted Amber Cooper to run for Dillon at first and Julie Broyer to pinch-hit for Megan Smith.
After a conference between all concerned, Broyer faked a bunt, pulled it back and faked a bunt again, as she took the pitch. As Acorns catcher Justine McDonald threw the ball to the mound, Baxter took off for third. Jacob’s throw to third to get Baxter was in the dirt and skidded away enough for Baxter to score.
If Baxter had been thrown out at third, it would have been tough to pinpoint who was to blame.
“I noticed that the catcher was throwing the ball back to the pitcher hard and the pitcher was having trouble handling it,” said Scott Smith. “So I told Amy that when I tug on my cap, to take off for third on the walking lead. I didn’t really give the signal, but I touch my cap so many times during a game that I guess that’s what she saw.”
“He gave me the signal,” said Baxter. “I did what I was supposed to.”
Winning pitcher Dani Hernandez (3-1) induced three straight grounders to third base in the bottom of the ninth and Megan Smith, on a re-entry, made the accurate toss to first baseman Liz Stewart for three quick outs. Hernandez started the fifth inning in relief of Alyssa Baker and gave up just a hit in the fifth inning. The Balers made one of their two errors behind her and she walked another batter intentionally and that was it.
As is Scott Smith’s game plan, Baker started and pitched four innings, yielding four hits and an unearned run in the fourth. The two pitchers combined to strikeout eight Acorn hitters.
“I’d do the same thing they’re doing,” said McDonnell on the Balers two-pitcher system. “We had trouble hitting some of (Dani’s) low pitches after the first pitcher was up in the zone. It’s always best for the hitters to see a pitcher the third time through.”
“Dani’s drop was really working today,” said Scott Smith. “She was tough to hit. Alyssa wasn’t as sharp as she has been, but she was good enough.”
Down 1-0 in the top of the fifth, J.T. Temperino reached first on a two-out error. She stole second, then was wild pitched to third. With the slap and bunt hitting Jenny Maheu up, the Acorns put on a unique shift, virtually vacating shortstop. That’s just about where Maheu hit the ball as Live Oak second baseman Eileen Grove made the play to the right of second base, but had no chance to throw out Maheu who was aboard with an RBI single.
The Balers had three other serious opportunities to score, but couldn’t:
In the second, Rachelle Barrientos, who had walked and stolen second, rounded third and headed for home after the Acorns made a fielding error at first base. But Acorns first baseman Rebecca Dayton recovered nicely to throw a shot to home to nip Barrientos at the plate on a close, close, close play.
In the fourth, Nashia Alvarez walked and Kim Dabo singled with no outs. Jacob, though, bore down and retired the next three hitters to get out of trouble.
Dabo led off the eighth with a double down the left field line, but Jacob set down the next three hitters in order.
Not to be lost was the fine performance by Jacob, who had six strikeouts and got the Balers to pop up time after time.
“She pitched pretty good,” said Scott Smith. “But we didn’t adjust to her. We kept dropping our bat. That’s why there were so many pop-ups.”
“She’s smart and is becoming an accomplished pitcher,” said McDonnell of the junior Jacob. “She had some passed balls today which hurt her that she doesn’t normally throw.”
The Balers return to the Circle of Champions this Saturday at Twin Creeks in Sunnyvale when they face Westmont at 9 a.m.
Baler bits: The Acorns executed a double play in the eighth. Maheu, who had walked, was doubled off first when Alvarez lined out to medium center with Maheu going on the pitch. – For the game, Megan Smith had seven assists at third base.
JV score: Hollister 4, Live Oak 3. Mallorie Matthews had a key two-run single and Nicole Burns added a triple for the Balers. Jessica Temperino went the distance for the win.
Hollister 000 010 001 – 2 5 2
Live Oak 000 100 000 – 1 5 4
Baker, Hernandez and Baxter; Jacob and McDonald. WP-Hernandez (3-1). LP-Jacob (3-3). 2B – Dabo (H). 2 hits – Dabo (H); Miles (LO).
