The San Benito 16-18 Babe Ruth All-Star team escaped with a 2-1 win over Ripon on Thursday in the first round of the Central California State Championship tournament in Hollister.
San Benito recorded only four hits, but never trailed in the game as starting pitcher Skyler Shaw-Fuss limited Ripon to no runs in five innings. Ripon, though, did threaten throughout the game stranding 12 runners in seven innings.
“They gave us the game,” San Benito manager Andrew Barragan said. “We didn’t win the game.”
Ripon could never get the big hit during the game, despite loading the base twice – once with no outs.
On offense, San Benito took the lead in the third inning after Shaw-Fuss opened the inning with a single. After a sacrifice bunt, shortstop Marcus Sabatte singled to center field to give San Benito a 1-0 lead.
San Benito added one more run in the sixth inning with a solo home run by first baseman Jacob Tonasica.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Ripon had its greatest chance to score. After Ripon loaded the bases with no outs, Kevin Salvas entered the game for San Benito and quickly exited the threat.
He struck out the first batter and forced a double play at home after a failed Ripon squeeze play.
In the bottom of the seventh, San Benito’s Salvas once again ran into trouble but limited the damage.
With the victory, San Benito will play at 4 p.m. Friday at Veterans Memorial Park in Hollister.
