Going into Monday’s Tri-County Athletic League softball tiff at
Notre Dame, Hollister High knew that runs would be scarce if
Spirits ace Kim Reeder was on.
SALINAS – Going into Monday’s Tri-County Athletic League softball tiff at Notre Dame, Hollister High knew that runs would be scarce if Spirits ace Kim Reeder was on.
She was on like neon lights at a Vegas casino.
The sophomore, working meticulously around the knees, shut down the Balers 2-0 for the Spirits’ 20th consecutive shutout. Reeder (17-1) limited the Balers to just a first-inning single through the box by Kim Dabo.
Johni Kiesewetter worked a 3-2 walk in the sixth and Amy Baxter walked in the seventh and that was all she wrote for the Balers (15-8, 6-4), who are all but mathematically eliminated from title contention with five games remaining in the regular season.
“That’s right,” admitted Baler head coach Scott Smith. “It will be hard for us to win the league now. Reeder did a great job of hitting her spots. And she set us up. Early in the game, she was throwing first-pitch strikes. Then, when we became more aggressive, she started going out of the zone early in the count and we started chasing.”
“Kim (Reeder) has a drop, screwball and curve,” said Spirits head coach Joe Given, in his 23rd season. “Plus she’s firm to the plate so you have to be ready. She and I know their hitters so we have a game plan going into the game. Kim just does a great job of executing it.”
Reeder, who threw 93 pitches, 61 for strikes, fanned seven Balers, induced five comebackers and allowed just two balls on the fly to the outfield. Amy Baxter flied to center in the fifth and Nashia Alvarez blooped one to short right in the seventh, only to have Spirits second baseman Serena Benavente make an athletic, backpedaling catch.
And it was Benavente, headed to St. Mary’s on a hoop scholarship next year, who blew the devastating Gael, so to speak, in the bottom of the fifth. Jessica Flores began the inning with a single off Baler starter Alyssa Baker (5-3), then Alyssa Given dropped the sac bunt to advance courtesy runner Melissa Smit. With first base open, Smith chose to intentionally walk Tennessee-bound Lindsay Schutzler for the second time in the game. The ploy backfired somewhat when a passed ball allowed the runners to move up. Smith then had another choice with first base open and one out: Walk Benavente and pitch to the three-four hitters – Amy Tompkins and Melissa Pura, who were a collective 2-for-4 for the game – or pitch to Benavente, who had flied out twice in her first two at bats.
“Serena hadn’t been hitting in league lately,” said Smith. “If I walk her, I’d have to be throwing a lot of change-ups to their best hitters. We wanted Alyssa to throw low and away to Serena because we moved our right fielder in.”
The pitch was up and away to Benavente, who spanked it over Julie Broyer’s head in right for a two-run double. That chased Baker in lieu of Dani Hernandez. Tompkins hit a menacing grounder off Hernandez to Dabo’s right at short. Dabo made a fabulous diving stop, then chased a trapped Benavente back to second with second baseman Jenny Maheu applying the tag. Hernandez easily set down the next four Spirits batters.
The play by Dabo was the second of the spectacular variety for her on the day. With one out in the second, Teri Ann Coaogan hit a bullet in between third and short. Dabo made a quick, headlong dive to her right to somehow catch the ball before it hit the ground.
“Kim (Dabo) is a great athlete,” said Given. “Hollister has great athletes. We knew from the last time we played them that they are a good team.”
“We just have to start hitting,” said Dabo. “We have to pick up our hitting soon.”
The Spirits (23-2, 9-1), ranked 18th in the nation, can take a major step in securing the inaugural T-CAL crown this Wednesday with a win at second place North Salinas (16-5, 6-3).
Meanwhile, the Balers hope to rebound this Wednesday vs. Live Oak at Community Park in Morgan Hill. The Balers host Leland (San Jose) on Thursday in a just-for-the-heck-of-it non-league game.
Baler bits: Neither team made an error. – The Spirits had five hits, two by Flores. – There was only one umpire. – Time of game was unofficially 1:13. – Joe Given said his club will play in either Division III or Division II of CCS. – The Balers are in the thick of it for second place as Salinas shocked North Salinas 1-0 Monday. – Remaining dates for the Balers: vs. Gilroy May 6, vs. North Salinas May 8, at Salinas May 13, vs. Notre Dame May 15.
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Reeder and Flores; Baker, Hernandez (5) and Baxter. WP – Reeder (17-1). LP – Baker (5-3). 2B – Benavente (ND). 2 hits – Flores (ND). 2 RBI – Benavente (ND).
