SALINAS
–– The Haybalers were four outs from shutting out Notre Dame on
Thursday for what would have been their fifth consecutive
shutout.
SALINAS –– The Haybalers were four outs from shutting out Notre Dame on Thursday for what would have been their fifth consecutive shutout.
But with Notre Dame’s powerful lineup, four outs can be an eternity as the Balers found out. San Benito lost 3-2, but it took a full seven innings before this game between Tri-County Athletic League powerhouses was decided.
“We felt coming in that we absolutely had a good shot of winning the game,” said Baler coach Scott Smith. “We match up pretty well talent-wise. We are looking forward to playing them in Hollister.”
Notre Dame had nine hits off Danielle Hernandez, while San Benito had six hits – the most Spirits pitcher Kim Reeder has given up all season. Both pitchers went the distance.
“We knew it would be decided by one run whether it was us or them,” said Notre Dame coach Joe Given. “You don’t shu out Hollister. You have to score more runs then them, because they are going to score.”
San Benito scored a run in the third inning, and it looked like it might be enough for a 1-0 win.
Megan N. Smith led off the inning with a single through the middle and beat the return throw at first base.
With one out, she was sacrificed to second base by Julie Broyer. Hillary Williams, who was 2 for 4, brought her home with a single through the middle.
The Balers (11-3, 4-1 TCAL) had their chances to score early in the game. In the second inning, the Balers loaded the bases. Kristen Archuleta walked, Rachelle Barrientos singled and Nicole C. Smith was hit by a pitch.
But the Spirits came home to get an out on a fielder’s choice and then got out of the inning after recovering from a wild pitch to get the runner sliding into home plate.
In the sixth inning, Amy Baxter crushed a ball that rolled all the way into the other field, where the JV game was going on. Coach Smith held her up at third base, not wanting to risk a close play at the plate with no out.
But Reeder picked up the heat, and got the next three batters to strikeout swinging.
“We just didn’t do the little things,” coach Smith said. “I had confidence in the hitters behind her. We had a couple chances to blow the game open. But we swung at some pitches out of the zone. We are more disciplined than that. We trained hard for situations that came up, but we weren’t prepared.”
The Balers were still without Liz Stewart, who is competing in New York with the drama team.
“We really missed her there at first base,” Smith said. “Not to take anything away from Johni (Kiesewetter). But a little more experience over there would have helped us.”
Kiesewetter came up with a big play in the sixth inning when she threw home on a slow roller that she fielded. Baxter put on the tag to get the lead runner.
But Brianna Cureton, the next batter beat out an infield single. Shortstop Jenny Maheu quickly fielded it and threw it to first, and Kiesewetter stretched as far as she could to get it. But the runner was right there and the tying run scored.
Notre Dame went ahead 2-1 after a delayed double steal of second and third base caught the Balers sleeping, even though Smith protested it should have been a dead ball. Freshman Lauren Schutzler knocked a ball to right to bring in the run.
The Balers weren’t done yet. In the seventh inning, San Benito tied the game. Maheu led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Broyer.
With two out, Archuleta crushed a ball that knocked the third baseman down. By the time the fielder recovered, Maheu had scored from second.
The Spirits loaded the bases in their half of the seventh inning with a hit, a walk and infield single for the first three batters.
Although the Balers did get a force out at home, Teri Ann Caoagan knocked a big hit over the left fielder’s head to win the game.
“We just have to learn from this game and play better next time,” Baxter said. “We’ll get them next time.”
San Benito will be at Live Oak on Tuesday.
