Just three days after topping Palma 6-4 in one of the biggest
games of the season, the San Benito Haybalers returned to the
diamond Tuesday and delivered a convincing two-touchdown victory
against visiting Alisal, belting four homers and connecting on 14
hits en route to an easy 14-0 win over the Trojans
HOLLISTER
So much for a letdown.
Just three days after topping Palma 6-4 in one of the biggest games of the season, the San Benito Haybalers returned to the diamond Tuesday and delivered a convincing two-touchdown victory against visiting Alisal, belting four homers and connecting on 14 hits en route to an easy 14-0 win over the Trojans.
“That was one of the things I was concerned about,” San Benito manager Michael Luna said. “With a big win over Palma, there is a tendency for a letdown. But we responded the way real good teams respond.
“That eight-spot showed right away they’d respond.”
And San Benito responded by showcasing the long ball. After Mark Hurley and Kyle Zozaya reached base in the first, Steve Cabral chased them with a three-run homer, quickly giving the ‘Balers a 3-0 lead.
Later in the same inning, Tyler Provost got on base before Spencer Brann blasted a two-run homer that cleared the right field fence and then some. Traveling over the scoreboard and over a nearby warehouse, Brann’s big blast was said to have left many shocked and amazed.
Luna believed it was the furthest ball he’s ever seen hit out of Hollister’s home field, and estimated it traveled 400 feet at the very least, perhaps even reaching distances of 450 feet.
“It was amazing,” Luna said simply.
Luna even noted how the winds were heading into left field, meaning Brann’s homer was hit into a crosswind.
“It was quite a shot,” Luna added. “A number of the players had their mouths wide open. They couldn’t believe how far that ball went.”
If that wasn’t enough, Darin Gillies, who displayed strong pitching in Saturday’s win at Palma, showed off his power bat and followed Brann’s dinger with a solo home run of his own – back-to-back.
The ‘Balers continued to score in the first inning when Justin Schlie’s single and ensuing stolen base set Ricky Garcia up for an RBI double, while Mark Hurley’s ball hit into left field resulted in an error and scored Garcia from second base.
San Benito tacked on three more runs in the second frame when Provost’s RBI double scored Trevor Fabing from second. But later in the inning with two outs, Gillies drove in another pair of runs when he connected on a two-run shot, his second homer of the game.
“He got ahead in both counts,” Luna said. “I’m sure he was looking for fastballs because he had 2-0 counts and he got the barrel of the bat on the ball, almost identical swings to almost identical parts of the field.”
Up 11-0 at that point, San Benito ensured the game would end by the 10-run rule when it added three more runs in the third inning behind RBI singles from Ricky Archuleta, Provost and Brann.
While it was San Benito’s bats that made the most noise, it was San Benito’s pitching that silenced Alisal’s.
Starter Steve Cabral (3IP, 1H, 1BB, 4K) and relievers Bret Furtado (1IP, 0H) and Tyler Provost (1IP, 0H, 1K) combined to throw a five-inning one-hitter against the Trojans, which fall to 2-12 in the Tri-County Athletic League, 3-20 overall.
Luna said Furtado looked good on the hill as well. The San Benito southpaw was throwing in just his second stint since returning from knee and elbow injuries earlier this season.
“He’s got a little bit on his fastball but his breaking ball is what’s impressive,” Luna said. “It’s got a lot of movement and he looks good.”
The ‘Balers, meanwhile, improve to 13-1 in the TCAL this season, 21-4-1 overall. The team will return to the field next Tuesday at Salinas. First pitch is at 4 p.m.
AL – 000 00X X – 0 1 2
SB – 833 0XX X – 14 14 2
