San Benito begins playoffs by hosting No. 14 Oak Grove; No. 3
‘Balers look to win first CCS game since 2003
Hollister – After already accomplishing two of its three preseason goals, the San Benito baseball team takes aim at the third today. When senior starter Breyon Canez peers in for the first sign against Oak Grove, the Haybalers will set off on a path that they hope leads them deep into the Central Coast Section playoffs.
After already succeeding in its quest for a postseason berth and a Tri-County Athletic League championship, San Benito now has its eyes on even greater heights.
“We talked about playing in that final game on Memorial weekend,” ‘Balers head coach Michael Luna said of the CCS Division I championship game. “That’s one of the first things we talked about at the beginning of the year.”
Awarded the No. 3 seed and a first-round home game, the ‘Balers welcome No. 14 Oak Grove this afternoon. Though the Eagles (13-13) finished fifth in the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s Mt. Hamilton Division, San Benito players have been cautioned not to underestimate their foe.
“Coach told us they’re about as good as any of the top-four teams in our league,” ‘Balers outfielder Kevin Medeiros said. “We’re just going to go out there, play our game and execute, not take them lightly.”
Riding the momentum of a five-game winning streak and an undefeated season at home, the ‘Balers (23-4) have the added benefit of knowing their ace will be on the hill.
“The thing is, with (Breyon) on the mound, every guy behind him … there’s that inner confidence amongst all of us that our chances are pretty good,” Luna said. “They have a tendency to raise their games with him on the mound.”
Eagles head coach Tom Galante likes his team’s chances, too.
“We expect to win,” said the Oak Grove coach, who noted the Eagles’ tough league competition as a big advantage. “We’re battle tested. I would have to say (Mt. Hamilton) is probably the toughest public school league in CCS. If we play our game and the breaks go our way, I expect us to be right there.”
Nevertheless, Galante allowed, “We have to play almost a perfect game to be in it.”
Despite playing several close games with the four teams in front of it in its league – three of which are in the Division I field – Oak Grove finished a combined 1-11 in those games. On the flip side, the Eagles were 8-1 against the three Mt. Hamilton teams that completed the regular season below them in the standings.
After narrowly avoiding the cutline and missing out on the playoffs for the third straight year, Oak Grove was thrilled to receive the No. 14 seed – and to avoid top seeds Serra and Bellarmine in the first round.
“When we got that, I was dumbfounded,” Galante said. “It’s like a second life almost. We’re just happy to be there and have a chance to play a great team.”
San Benito would appear to have two significant edges heading into the contest – playoff experience and the homefield advantage.
While the ‘Balers have several players with postseason seasoning, Oak Grove doesn’t have a single one.
Galante admitted a bit of uncertainty in terms of what to expect from his team.
“We’re either going to be really good or really bad,” the Oak Grove coach said. “There’s no in between.”
With a packed house expected, most of whom will be pulling for the ‘Balers, San Benito knows it is in an enviable position to open the playoffs on its field.
“It’s big because we’re undefeated at home,” ‘Balers center fielder Jacob Boyd said. “That’s a huge momentum booster for our club.”
Hosting a CCS game for the first time since defeating Aptos in 2003, San Benito has designs on avoiding the one-and-done fate that it has experienced the past two seasons. No. 11 San Benito fell at No. 6 St. Francis, 7-0, last year, and the No. 13 ‘Balers were eliminated by No. 4 Leland, 2-0, in 2004.
San Benito catcher Travis Ross said his team’s postseason history has the players well aware that success can be fleeting.
“We’re going to play every game like it’s our last game,” Ross said.
And Medeiros added that once first pitch comes today, “pretty much it’s a whole new season. It doesn’t matter how good you were previous. If you lose one game, you’re out of this.”
The San Benito–Oak Grove contest starts in Hollister at 4pm.
