Softball team wins first league title
The San Benito High School girls’ softball team has made history
two years in a row. Last year, they did so by winning the school’s
first-ever Central Coast Section softball championship. And this
season they did so by beating Notre Dame 3-0 on Tuesday afternoon
at home, which ultimately propelled the 2007 Baler girls softball
team to the school’s first-ever Tri County Athletic League
title.
Softball team wins first league title
The San Benito High School girls’ softball team has made history two years in a row. Last year, they did so by winning the school’s first-ever Central Coast Section softball championship. And this season they did so by beating Notre Dame 3-0 on Tuesday afternoon at home, which ultimately propelled the 2007 Baler girls softball team to the school’s first-ever Tri County Athletic League title.
Although the second feat was not official until after our deadline on Thursday, we decided to go ahead and write about it just a bit early. After all, heading into yesterday afternoon’s contest at Gilroy High School, the Balers held a two-game lead over the Mustangs and Notre Dame, and a one-game lead over second-place Salinas. On Tuesday, the Balers face the last-place Vikings of North Salinas while Notre Dame and Salinas battled it out head-to-head.
And with a pitcher on the hill like Marissa Ibarra, congratulating the Balers on their first-ever league title really wasn’t going out on a limb.
Against the Spirits on Tuesday, Ibarra, who is arguably the best pitcher in the entire CCS section, pitched her team to a 3-0 shutout victory at home, and had a perfect game going into the sixth inning.
“That was our best game all year,” said San Benito High coach Scott Smith, who knew that the victory would ultimately be the key to winning the 2007 TCAL title. “Marissa pitched great and our team defense was outstanding today.”
Ibarra, as always, looked unstoppable.
Entering the sixth inning the Balers star hurler had not allowed a single Spirit player to reach base, and picked up two quick outs that inning before a bobbled play at second allowed the Spirits to reach base for the first time all afternoon. In the final inning, Ibarra lost her bid for her fourth no hitter of the year after allowing a single up the middle, but got the next batter to hit into a double play to end the inning. In all, Ibarra faced 22 batters – one more than the minimum. She also had 10 strikeouts in the game, which lowered her season ERA to 0.06 – the best in the entire section.
“She was awesome today,” Smith said. “She was probably throwing 5 miles per hour faster than she normally does. I just think it was because she was so pumped up for the game. I don’t know what it was. I guess she just had her adrenaline going today.”
The sophomore hurler has had it going against everyone this season, and last. The 3-0 win over the Spirits would also mark the dominant hurlers 22 complete game and her 18th shutout.
“Going into the game, the plan was for her to throw 40 percent changeups,” Smith said. “But she was throwing so hard, and blowing it right by them that I let her keep doing it. I think she wound up throwing just one changeup the whole game.”
The Baler offense gave Ibarra a lead in the bottom half of the first inning. J. C. Clayton got things going with a single up the gut that was followed by a walk to Rachel Maheu. Elena Fata then hit an infield ground out that allowed both Baler runners to advance. With runners at first and second Lizzy Gatto then grounded out, but the play allowed Clayton to score from third. Lindsay Clay then ripped her first extra-base hit of the day – a triple that drove in Maheu.
The Balers added another insurance run in the third inning when Fata hit a leadoff triple, and wound up scoring on a pass ball later in the innings.
“We understand that Notre Dame had some injuries, but it would be still an outstanding feeling to win league,” Smith said on Tuesday. “All of the teams are good in this league. Winning this league is not easy so doing so will feel real good.”
With one goal under their belt, the Balers will begin their quest to repeat as section champions in just two short weeks when the section tournament gets under way.
