A simple comebacker never felt so sweet for Hollister High
hurler Dani Hernandez.
SAN JOSE – A simple comebacker never felt so sweet for Hollister High hurler Dani Hernandez.
Hernandez, who never shows any emotion in the pitcher’s circle, calmly threw the ball to Liz Stewart at first base for the final out of the game.
Then it was time for Hernandez and the cool-as-cucumber Balers to really lose their composure.
Hollister, seeded fifth, stunned No. 1-seeded Carlmont 1-0 in 10 breathtaking innings at PAL Stadium in San Jose to come away with a riveting Central Coast Section Division I semifinal victory – as good a win as any in the history of the school.
The Scots (29-6), the two-time defending CCS Division II champs, had entered the contest as the much-storied program and had the much-more ballyhooed hurler going in junior Jerica Castagno.
The Balers (23-9), who have never won a CCS softball title, face another fair hurler in Saturday’s championship game at PAL at 10 a.m. That would be Monica Abbott of North Salinas. The Vikings, behind a no-hit, 16 strikeout performance by the overpowering Abbott, severed Santa Teresa 1-0 in the other semi.
“We can do it,” said the Balers Nashia Alvarez. “It’s my senior season and I want to go out with a championship.”
Alvarez, the designated hitter, was involved in the most critical play of the windy, chilly evening at the park which is nestled at the merging of Highways 101 and 280/680. With Julie Broyer beginning the 10th inning at second base as part of the international tiebreaker rule, Alvarez attempted to lay two sacrifice bunts down, but fouled them off both times. Alvarez bounced one back to Castagno, who had handled three previous chances without a flaw. This time, Castagno’s throw sailed past Scots first baseman Bridgett Mason and rolled out of play. Broyer, who was two-thirds of the way to third when the ball reached Mason, strolled home with the winning run as Alvarez was awarded second.
“I knew I was going to score before I went out there,” said Broyer. “And I knew Nashia would come through.”
Alvarez was immediately replaced by the swift Nicole Burns as a pinch-runner. With Kim Dabo at the plate, Burns advanced a base on a wild pitch. Dabo’s roller to short was held to keep Burns on at third as Dabo was credited with a hit. With the infield still in, Amy Baxter grounded one to Scots shortstop Lindsey Garehime as Burns broke for the plate. Garehime’s throw to the plate gunned down Burns as Scots talented catcher Celina Castillo blocked the plate to take away a big insurance run for the Balers. Stewart’s bid to drive in another run was snared by second baseman Kelli Leong, who made a fine running catch behind first base.
The Scots, who started the bottom of the tenth with Castillo on at second, weren’t about to give up. Garehime’s sac bunt with two strikes was successful as Castillo, who represented the tying run, took third. Hernandez bore down to strike out the next hitter as the large group of Baler fans who made the 45-mile trip went beserk. Mason hit the first pitch right back to Hernandez and the Balers had reached the CCS DI title game for the second time in three years.
Hernandez, who fanned six and walked just one, an intentional pass to Castagno in the third, impressed Scots Jim Liggett, one of the most winningest softball coaches in the country.
“Her location was fanstastic,” said Liggett, who has produced the likes of Stanford hurler Tory Nyberg. “She had a great changeup and hit her spots. Give Hollister credit. I felt the game would come down to who made the error. We made the error and Hollister took advantage of it.”
The Balers narrowly escaped elimination in the bottom of the seventh in similar fashion. Hernandez (14-5) fanned the first two batters. However, Leong, who has known Scott Smith since she was a youngster, laced a single to center. The ball eluded the Balers center fielder and rolled to the fence as Leong sped all the way to third. Hernandez, showing her poise, induced a 4-3 ground out to get out of the jam and keep the Balers’ dreams alive.
“I was a little nervous then,” admitted Hernandez.
With the exception of that one chink in the armor, the Baler defense was stellar. At times using a shift for certain Scots hitters, the infield of third baseman Megan Smith, shortstop Dabo, second baseman Jenny Maheu and Stewart at first, handled 22 chances with out a miscue. Only two balls were hit to the outfield which weren’t Carlmont hits. One was caught by Rachelle Barrientos in left and the other was a line drive to Johni Kiesewetter in center.
Offensively, the Balers had just three hits. The one by Dabo in the 10th and two by the pesky Maheu, who was on base three times in four trips. Maheu reached third with one out in the third inning, but was stranded. She was thrown out trying to steal second in the sixth after walking with two out.
It was certainly a tough loss for Castagno (19-4), who whiffed 11 Balers and walked just two.
“Jerica pitched a great game,” said Liggett. “She was tremendous. It was too bad she took the loss.”
“She’s a power pitcher,” stated Scott Smith about Castagno, who mesmerized Baler hitters at times with a nasty changeup. “And she’s smart. The plate umpire was giving her four to six inches outside and she went there early in the game and stayed there. The strike zone was widened for both pitchers.”
Liggett concurred.
“His strike zone was all over the place,” he said. “But it was that way for both pitchers.”
Whatever the case, this pitcher’s duel was decided by a late-inning bobble, which happens more times than not in the sport of softball. Fate was on the Balers’ side Thursday night. Scott Smith credits the rugged Tri-County Athletic League slate more than luck.
“We’ve played the best teams in CCS all year in our league,” said Smith. “They’ve prepared us for games like this. I was happy the way we stayed calm out there (tonight).”
Should the Balers defeat the defending Division I champs Vikings on Saturday, it would be the third time in four meetings. That, alone, would be historic enough for any normal year. But this isn’t any normal year.
The first CCS title in school school history would be severe icing on the cake and would be really be cause for celebration.
Baler bits: Scott Smith has listed Alyssa Baker as his starter for Saturday with Hernandez at the ready for relief work, if needed. – In three CCS playoff games, Baker and Hernandez have a scoreless streak of 24 innings.
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Hernandez and Baxter; Castagno and Castillo. WP – Hernandez (14-5). LP – Castagno (19-4). 2 hits – Maheu (H).
