A two-run double by Dustin Rovella in the seventh eventually led
to a four-run ninth inning on Friday, as the San Benito Haybalers
outlasted rival Palma 8-4 in extras and will live to see another
day in the race for the TCAL crown
SALINAS
Nobody said San Benito was going down without a fight, not with its streak of five straight Tri-County Athletic League titles still on the line.
Not in the least.
Trailing 3-2 with two outs in the seventh inning to rival Palma, which owned a one-game lead in the loss column entering Friday’s game, the Balers received a last-inning effort when Dustin Rovella connected on a two-RBI double to the left-center field wall, vaulting San Benito from a one-run deficit to a one-run lead.
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And when Palma got the run back in the home half of the inning, aided in part when a double-play attempt went awry, the Balers responded to the tune of four runs in the ninth, highlighted by a two-run single from Daniel Arevalo and an RBI single by Jacob Tonascia.
No, no one said San Benito was going down without a fight. But in a back-and-forth battle that ended with an 8-4 victory in nine innings, the Balers sure do know how to make it interesting.
Rovella was 3 of 3 with a run scored and two RBI, Tonascia was 2 of 4 with two RBI, and Ryan Jacob went 3 of 5 with a pair of runs and one RBI.
San Benito, behind seven innings from starter Bryan Granger (7IP, 8H, 4R, 3ER, 6K) and two shutout innings of relief from Anthony Ocampo (2IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 1K), will live to see another day in the three-team race for the TCAL title.
Palma, at 14-3, has one game remaining against Salinas on Tuesday.
Salinas, at 12-4, has two games left, including Tuesday’s matchup with the Chieftains, as well as Thursday’s game against North Salinas.
As for the Balers, who are now 17-7 overall and 13-3 in the TCAL, they will play at home to Alisal Tuesday before traveling to Gilroy on Thursday.
And the answer for San Benito is an easy one — win out, and at least a share of the TCAL title is guaranteed.
Of course, that has been the only antidote since San Benito fell to Palma for a second time on April 13 — just win out. And no game had more significance to the Balers than Friday’s matchup with Palma.
A win for the Chieftains Friday would have supplied the Salinas school with at least a share of the league crown, and it was looking like that might be the case, especially after the bottom of the sixth inning.
With the game tied at 2, Hollister resident Tyler Quinby doubled on for Palma, then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. With the Balers drawing the infield in, the next batter for the Chieftains connected on an RBI single to lift Palma to a 3-2 lead heading to the final frame.
But San Benito capitalized during its final three outs. Craig Slibsager was hit by a pitch with one out, while Bryan Granger was hit by a pitch with two outs, when Rovella plated both runners with a two-run double to the left-field wall.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Palma answered right back in the home half. Following a single, sacrifice bunt and intentional walk, the Chieftains tied the game when a game-ending double-play attempt by the Balers resulted in a throwing error.
Now tied 4-4, the two teams played into the ninth inning, when San Benito finally broke through again, and then some.
A leadoff single by Josh George put the go-ahead run on base, while Granger later sacrificed him into scoring position. Rovella was then intentionally walked, putting two runners on, when another throwing error — this time by Palma — supplied the Balers with the lead as George scored the go-ahead run.
San Benito wasn’t done, though. Later in the inning, a Ryan Jacob bunt single preceded Daniel Arevalo’s two-run single, while Jacob Tonascia also connected on an RBI single as well.
With an 8-4 lead, relief pitcher Ocampo got the first two outs before allowing a walk, but gave up nothing more.
Earlier in the game, San Benito got on the scoreboard first when Matt Vallejo hit an RBI double in the third inning. Although Palma responded with a pair of runs in the home half, the Balers again scored a run in the fourth following an RBI double by Jacob Tonascia.
The 2-2 game held until the sixth inning.
In the first of its two remaining games in TCAL play, San Benito will host Alisal Tuesday at 4 p.m. Winning out for the Balers would ensure at least a share of the league championship, while winning the TCAL outright would depend on how both Palma and Salinas perform in their remaining games.
SANB — 001 100 204 — 8 11 3
PALM — 002 001 100 — 4 8 2
WP: A. Ocampo
LP: J. Larimer
