Softball team opens CCS tourney against No. 9 Evergreen Valley;
Track and swimming compete this weekend at CCS
Hollister
After earning the top seed in the Central Coast Section Division I softball playoffs, the San Benito Lady ‘Balers will open the postseason against No. 9 Evergreen Valley Saturday at the Salinas Sports Complex.
San Benito (25-4) received a first-round bye for their efforts and will play the Cougars (18-9-2), which shut out No. 8 Oak Grove (20-6) Wednesday, 6-0.
The game will take place at Field #3 of the Salinas Sports Complex at 10:30 a.m.
San Benito Track
The San Benito track and field team will look to make the first step toward a NorCal-qualifying berth on Saturday when they compete in the Central Coast Section Track and Field Semifinals at Gilroy High School.
San Benito will send 16 individual athletes to the CCS semis, not to mention both the boys 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams.
The main goal now is to advance to next week’s CCS Finals, held at GHS.
For the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races, the top two finishers in each heat advance, while the next eight fastest times qualify as well.
For the remaining running events, the winner of each heat, plus the next fastest runner, advances to the finals.
For field events, the top eight competitors advance.
San Benito will send nine male athletes, including Frankie Rivera (1,600), Evan McFadden (110 high hurdles), Austin Schmidt (110 high hurdles, 300 low hurdles, long jump), Ryan Shorey (200, 400), Josh Godbout (pole vault), Bryan Gonzalez (pole vault), Chris Koroluk (long jump, triple jump), Frankie Martinez (discus) and Wade Jacobson (shot put). Seven Lady ‘Balers will seek a finals bid as well, including Courtney Allen (1,600), Melisah Cortez (400), Kelsey Russell (100), Natalie Becker (pole vault), Meghan Delatorre (pole vault), Sarah Yoldi (discus) and Lila Yoldi (shot put).
The CCS Semifinals will take place Saturday at the Garcia-Elder Sports Complex. Field events begin at 9:30 a.m., while running events commence at 11 a.m.
San Benito Swimming
Unlike their track and field counterparts, the San Benito swim team won’t have to wait a week to reach the CCS Finals.
Today, Friday, the CCS Prelims will be held at the Avery Aquatic Center on the Stanford University campus. Those who finish in the top 16 in their respective events advance to the CCS Finals on Saturday at Stanford.
While the boys and girls teams will each send their 200-yard medley relay, their 200-yard freestyle relay, and their 400-yard freestyle relay, San Benito will also send 12 swimmers to compete in individual events.
There will be four ‘Balers, including Brandon Drogemuller (200 free, 500 free), Steven Shattuck (100 breast), Andrew Yacovone (diving) and Morris Stevens (diving), that will compete in the prelims, while seven Lady ‘Balers will also compete, including Megan Geary (50 free), Katie Buzzetta (50 free), Lacey Larson (200 free, 500 free), Celina Stotler (100 fly, 500 free), Jessica Drogemuller (200 free, 500 free), Demi Gatrell (100 fly, 100 breast) and Shelli Reed (50 free, 100 free).
The Prelims will commence at 11 a.m. Friday, while on Saturday, the diving will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the CCS Finals will start at 1 p.m.
