Sims throws six shutout innings, Klauer comes through with
game-winning RBI
Hollister – The San Benito High baseball team advanced to the semifinal round of the North Monterey County Tournament with a 1-0 win over Monte Vista Christian at SBHS on Wednesday.
The Haybalers have now won six straight and will be looking for number seven against a tough 14-1 Carmel, ranked sixth in the Central Coast Section, on Friday in Castrovlle for a shot at the tournament crown, which will be decided on Saturday.
“I really enjoy coaching these one-run games,” said Hollister head coach Michael Luna. “And the players love playing in the close games too. The intensity is just so much higher.”
The Balers got their offense going in the sixth when Scott Mead doubled with one out. Geno Fata was up next and he hit a grounder to third. The third baseman’s throw to first was off, pulling the defender at first off the bag a bit. Fata made the Mustangs pay for the mistake by reaching safely thanks to a crafty slide under the defender’s tag.
Karson Klauer, who has come through with some clutch hits for the Haybalers so far this season, was up next and he delivered with a base hit between short and third to score Mead from second.
“We are getting better offensively,” Luna said. “I just think that it’s going to be one game where it’s going to click for a number of us and we’re going to go on a tear offensively. And when that happens, it’s going to be scary. If we’re can start scoring a lot of runs and playing catch and pitching the way we are, we’re going to start beating up on some teams pretty good.”
Hollister starter Jason Sims, coming off a solid performance against Milpitas last Friday that saw him strike out seven, threw a stellar game for six innings against Monte Vista Christian on Wednesday.
Some mistakes on defense the fourth saw the Mustangs load up the bases on Sims with only one out but he battled back to get the next two batters out and retire the side.
Sims worked a tough game, his pitch count going over the 90 mark, and when he finally made his exit, the Hollister senior was visibly upset.
And Sims’ frustration over not being able to notch the complete game, along with his overall intensity on the day, is exactly what coach Luna is looking for in his players as they prepare not only to go for their seventh straight, but to resume league play as well.
“I told the team after the game that that’s the intensity I want to see,” Luna said. “He wanted to go back out there and complete the game, he should be upset. But his pitch count was in the 90s and that’s my limit for him, especially when we’re starting league next week and we’re going to need him next Wednesday.”
Tri-County Athletic League action picks up again next Wednesday as the Haybalers host Salinas at 4pm.
