San Benito throttles No. 13 Oak Grove, 18-1, in CCS opener; No.
3 ‘Balers to play No. 6 Santa Teresa Saturday
Hollister – The runs came so fast and furious, it was like a tidal wave. Four in the first inning, eight more in the third and then a six-spot in the fourth for good measure.
The San Benito offense came roaring out of the gate and before No. 13 Oak Grove knew what had happened, the game was all but over. And after a near-flawless effort by the ‘Balers’ pitching staff, it was over.
Firing on all cylinders – batting around twice in four innings, limiting the Eagles to just one hit and even recording one of the defensive gems of the year – No. 3 San Benito humbled Oak Grove, 18-1, to open the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs.
The domination was so thorough that ‘Balers head coach Michael Luna was nearly speechless.
“I definitely didn’t expect this. I had envisioned it being a real close game,” Luna said after San Benito advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003. “I’m at a loss for words right now.”
The ‘Balers play No. 6 Santa Teresa on Saturday.
Playing on their own field for the final time this season, the ‘Balers quickly announced they would be most inhospitable hosts. San Benito ace Breyon Canez pitched through a fielding error in the first to bring the ‘Baler hitters to the plate. And once those bats got going, they didn’t want to stop.
Canez himself got the four-run outburst started by crushing a 3-1 pitch from Eagles starter Nick Loredo over the left-center fence for a solo home run. San Benito senior Karson Klauer golfed the next pitch to the left-center gap for a stand-up double and then advanced to third when clean-up hitter Brian Haggett dropped a soaring fly ball into the leftfield corner for another double.
By the time catcher Travis Ross connected for the ‘Balers’ fourth straight hit – a two-run single – San Benito had taken a 3-0 lead with only one out. Ross later came around to score on an RBI single by Kevin Medeiros, marking the third consecutive game San Benito jumped to a 4-0 lead after its opening at-bat.
“(You) take a lot away from the opposition when you put up a crooked number that early,” Luna said. “Take the wind out of their sails.”
‘Balers senior Ryan McFall said San Benito executed its plan to perfection in facing the Eagles.
“We knew we had to get ’em intimidated from as soon as they got on our field,” McFall said.
And a huge part of that advantage was Canez. The senior left-hander breezed through the Oak Grove lineup in the second, needing just six pitches to retire the side, and then got a big assist from his defense in the third.
Eagles No. 9 hitter Nevin Gardiner roped what looked to be a sure-single into the right-center gap, but San Benito center fielder Jacob Boyd raced in and dove to come up with a highlight-reel catch.
In addition to letting his defense do the work, Canez said he and relievers McFall and younger brother Zach Canez knew they could dictate the game from the mound.
“We just had to play our game, and we did,” Breyon said. “We just had to throw strikes – that’s the most important thing. We just had to go after them.”
The ‘Baler batters got after the Eagles’ pitchers again in the third. Haggett drew a four-pitch walk from San Benito reliever Steven Harlow to open the inning and then quickly scored on a double by Ross. Harlow was able to secure the second out on a sacrifice fly by Zach Canez that pushed the ‘Balers’ lead to 6-0, but then San Benito showed its craftiness and plate awareness are just as potent as its power.
Boyd dropped a bunt down the third-base line and beat out the throw for a single, giving the ‘Balers runners at the corners, and then leadoff hitter Josh Torrise loaded the bases by drawing a walk. Breyon Canez and Klauer followed with RBI walks that put the Eagles in an even deeper hole and forced Oak Grove head coach Tom Galante to summon reliever Tony Puentes from the bullpen.
But on this day, it didn’t matter who was throwing – the ‘Balers were on fire. After drawing two balls, Haggett then delivered the crushing blow to the Eagles, belting a grand slam to straightaway center. The sophomore said once the ‘Balers put a few runs on the scoreboard, the momentum only built.
“It’s contagious,” said Haggett, who finished his first playoff game 2-for-2 with three runs and four RBIs. “Come out early, score some runs. Every inning, try to win every inning.”
Galante said that inning put the game out of reach for his team.
“The wheels came off in the third,” the Oak Grove coach said. “When you don’t throw strikes … .”
Haggett’s grand slam pushed the lead to 12-0, allowing Luna to pull Canez from the game, a development that left open the possibility that the senior could pitch in Saturday’s quarterfinal. The left-hander needed just 27 pitches to get through his three no-hit innings, striking out three and walking one.
The only intrigue left in the ballgame was whether San Benito’s relievers could preserve the no hitter. After getting one out in the fourth, McFall induced a sky-high pop-up from Loredo, who remained in the game as Oak Grove’s catcher, that looked as if it would drift out of play. But just as the favorable hitting conditions helped the ‘Balers drive balls into the gap, this ball blew back and dropped in front of McFall just in front of home plate for a single.
Oak Grove scored its only run in the fifth, when center fielder Kevin Vye scored on an infield groundout. Reliever Zach Canez had struck out Vye, but the Eagles’ No. 5 hitter took first base once the ball bounced away.
Each of San Benito’s first five hitters reached base multiple times and scored at least two runs. Breyon Canez was just as effective at the plate as he was on the hill, going 2-for-3 with three runs and four RBIs. Ross finished 3-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs, while Klauer went 2-for-3 with three runs.
The ‘Balers finished with 13 hits and also drew eight walks. Afterwards, Galante shared his admiration of San Benito’s hitting approach.
“I think they were a very, very, very good hitting team. One through nine, they were very disciplined hitters at the plate,” the Oak Grove coach said. “They’re going to give CCS a run for their money if they continue to play the way they did today.”
After opening-round shutout losses to Leland and St. Francis, respectively, in 2004 and 2005, the ‘Balers parlayed their homefield advantage into their first quarterfinal appearance since defeating Aptos in Hollister three years ago. Wednesday’s victory completed a perfect, 13-0 season for San Benito at home.
The ‘Balers move on to play another Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division team. Santa Teresa won its sixth straight game Wednesday night, dispatching No. 11 Piedmont Hills, 4-0. Saints pitcher Alex Kalogrides spearheaded the shutout effort from the mound and Kyle Bellows finished with two hits, including a home run, and two RBIs.
Luna was already strategizing about how to best attack Santa Teresa.
“My wheels are turning right now, thinking about the next game,” the San Benito coach said. “We don’t have very much time to reflect on this game.”
Klauer said San Benito did well to get the first game out of the way, the first of what the ‘Balers hope will be a four-game run to the championship.
“It’s big. Get past that first game,” Klauer said. “There are a lot of tough teams out there. Gotta knock ’em off one by one.”
The San Benito–Santa Teresa contest starts at 10am on Saturday at PAL Stadium in San Jose.
