The Hollister softball team is back in the elite of the Central Coast Section and headed into the NorCal playoffs.
After a 20-6 regular season and a Gabilan title, the Balers won their opener in the CCS Open Division playoffs by beating Valley Christian 2-1. In the semifinals, however, the Balers lost 6-1 to Archbishop Mitty, the eventual champion with a subsequent win over Willow Glen.
That result left Hollister in third place in CCS, and advanced them into the NorCal Division II playoffs this week. They opened on June 2 on the road at Vanden High in Fairfield.
In 2023, the Balers won the Gabilan title and then made history with CCS Open Division and NorCal Division 1 championships. In 2024, they again won the Gabilan, then claimed third in CCS with an Open Division semifinal spot and competed in NorCals.
Last year, they took a step back, finishing third in league and then competing in CCS Division 1 and losing their opener.
This year’s young team jelled fast, won the Gabilan race, and returned to the CCS Open Division bracket, which includes only the best eight in the whole section.
“It’s been an amazing season,” Hollister coach Andrew Barragan said. “Our first goal is to win league, over Salinas, Palma and Monterey. We came out on top. It’s amazing. Then we won our first game in the Open Division playoffs. We are exceeding my expectations. We over-achieved.”
They first beat VC as Baler freshman pitcher Sidney Esparza shut down the Warriors with a complete-game, three-hit, 11-strikeout outing. Aalynah Davila and Madalyne Rodriguez each knocked in a run.
On May 27, the Balers hosted perennial CCS power Mitty from the West Catholic Athletic League. Mitty had 16 CCS titles in 23 championship game appearances. Hollister’s legacy is up there too, with 10 crowns in 13 appearances, all since 2001.
The contest was an even battle for half the game. Each team had chances. Mitty began to convert, with a key bloop single plating two runs in the fourth inning, and they pulled away after that.
“The game didn’t work out in our favor,” coach Barragan said. “We knew it would be tough. Their pitcher (Kyleigh Mace) elevates her game. She kept us off balance today.”
Hollister advanced two runners into scoring position in the first but could not convert. In the top of the second, Mitty scored a run, fueled by three walks. Baler third baseman Rodriguez shut down the threat with two strong defensive plays.
In the top of the fourth, Mitty had two on base and cashed them in with a two-out bloop single to center by Adelle Duncan. Hollister threatened in the bottom of the frame, as De’zeyer Fa’agai singled to center and Sophia Galindo drilled a double down the left field line.
But Mace was dealing and her dropball was big trouble. She induced a ground out from Isabel Gonzalez to end the inning.
The score stayed 4-1 until the final inning. In the seventh, Mitty added two insurance runs with an infield single and a walk, and an Alyssa Hahn double scoring both runners.
“It could’ve been better,” first baseman Sophia Galindo said. “We found some positives and some negatives. We know we can compete with teams like that.”
The six-day break between the Mitty game and the first NorCal game comes in handy. Barragan commented that the team is a bit banged up and would welcome the time off and be able to re-focus on the NorCal games.
The season has been a huge success so far. A young team went 20-6, won the Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division title and reached the CCS semifinals.
The Balers’ season continues with NorCal play at Vanden, where No. 5 seed Hollister takes on the No. 4 seed Vikings, San Joaquin Section Division III runner-up.
“We’ve had an amazing season,” Galindo said. “We have a really really young team. We have nine freshmen. The freshmen have stepped up. We have a lot of potential. We are excited about NorCals and the State playoffs.”
League awards were recently handed out. PCAL Gabilan All-League recognition went to five Hollister players. Freshman sensation Esparza was named to the First Team and was awarded Co-Pitcher of the Year honors. Additionally, she was awarded a “PCAL Big Award,” which went to just three players on the First Team.
Other First Team recognition went to shortstop Ashley Io, third baseman Rodriguez and outfielder Fa’agai. Catcher Avery Chavez was named to the Second Team.
Io currently leads the Balers with a .473 batting average. Esparza is hitting .438 with six homers. Rodriguez is at .388 and Fa’agai is batting .375 with four homers. Chavez is at .378 with 25 runs scored and 22 steals.
In the circle, it’s Esparza. She has thrown 119.1 innings and has an ERA of 2.52.
“Our younger players got some good experience in the Open Division in this game (versus Mitty),” Barragan said. “It’s good to see what it’s like in the Open Division, the high caliber of players. I’m proud of the girls and we still got NorCals. We get bonus ball. We’re looking forward to it.”
