Hollister could be playing for a share of first place next week
following Thursday’s game that saw the bats come alive again for
SBHS
The San Benito High baseball team went from a backs-against-the-wall situation to contemplating scenarios that could see the team playing for first place in the Tri-County Athletic League next week with a big 9-3 win over Palma at home on Thursday.
“This game was huge for us,” said Hollister head coach Michael Luna, whose team plays Live Oak next Thursday in a game that could be for a share of the league’s top spot depending on how the Acorns fare against Palma today. “I don’t want to say that it was a make-or-break game for us but our players read between the lines. If we lose today, we’re three games behind first place. Now, with the big win, we’re only two games behind.”
Coach Luna spent the first month or so of the season shuffling the team’s lineup, looking for the perfect order to give opposing pitchers fits.
It looks like it’s now pretty safe to say he’s figured it out.
Karson Klauer set the offensive tone with a lead-off double to start the game off before being brought home later in the inning on an RBI single from Seth Hudson, who finished the day with three RBI after hitting a two-run double in the sixth.
Palma starter Joey Davi had more trouble on his hands later in the first after loading the bases with a walk to Jason Sims. Davi’s early control problems continued as he walked Hollister’s next batter, Geno Fata, to score a run and put the Balers up 2-0.
The Haybalers put even more pressure on Davi later in the game with a three-run outburst in the fourth. Baler starting pitcher Breyon Canez, who was limited to four solid innings on the mound due to the 10 innings a week rule, helped himself out by leading off the inning with a double. Klauer was up next and, despite a scary moment in the second that saw the Baler third baseman get drilled in the head by a Davi pitch, he connected for a single that moved Canez over to third.
Klauer was called out stealing second on a very questionable call as the defender covering second didn’t appear to get the tag down. No matter though, Scott Mead followed Klauer at the plate and he pulverized Davi’s 2-2 offering for a two-run shot to center field.
Brian Rossi, who would take the mound in relief of Canez in the fifth and close the game out with three solid innings of work, was up next and he followed suit with a towering blast down the left line and over the fence to put Hollister up 5-3.
“We got some clutch hitting today, especially with two outs,” Luna said. “That was a gutsy pitching performance by Breyon Canez after throwing 80 pitches on Monday. He wanted the ball, he told me (Wednesday) that he wanted the ball. Also, you can’t say enough about Brian Rossi’s performance. He’s only pitched two innings all year but he just stepped it up big time today.”
