San Benito beat Evergreen Valley 8-2 in the CCS quarterfinals
Saturday, and will play Carlmont Thursday in what will be a rematch
of last year’s CCS Final
Salinas
It was a defensive game, no doubt, but the San Benito Lady ‘Balers – admittedly – played defense rather uncharacteristically.
After more than a week’s layoff in between games, the top-seeded Lady ‘Balers sent Evergreen Valley home 8-2 Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Central Coast Section Division I softball playoffs at the Salinas Sports Complex.
But although San Benito trumped the ninth-seeded Cougars to advance to the CCS semifinals, they played a bend-but-don’t-break style that gave Evergreen Valley (18-10-2) countless scoring chances throughout the game, but perhaps provided a kick-start to the postseason for San Benito.
The Haybalers committed four errors in the field and starting pitcher Marisa Ibarra allowed eight walks. Then again, when their backs were seemingly against the wall, the San Benito defense relied on the force-out play that stranded 15 Cougars on base, nine of whom were in scoring position, while Ibarra came through with nine strikeouts.
“We’ve talked all year about how many different ways we can win a game,” manager Scott Smith said. “When you have a layoff like that and still win (the way we did), it reiterates to the kids that we better have a good practice.
“In hindsight, the way the game played out, I think it’s gonna help us down the stretch.”
San Benito (26-4) will play No. 5 Carlmont (25-7) in Thursday’s semifinal matchup at PAL Stadium in San Jose – a rematch of last year’s CCS Final in which the Lady ‘Balers won, 2-1. The Scots, which have defeated No. 12 Salinas and No. 3 Leigh by matching 3-1 scores already this postseason, lost earlier this year to San Benito at the Charlie Miguel Invitational Tournament, 3-0.
The Lady ‘Balers will almost certainly need a more sound game against Carlmont, but coaches and players alike are hoping the contest against Evergreen Valley provided a victorious wake-up call.
“I don’t think we were focused,” said Elena Fata, who was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored Saturday. “We tried to pick up Marisa as much as could, but I don’t think we’re focused.”
The senior shortstop even felt that the infield, well, forgot about the infield. Playing upon a slip-and-slide-like surface at Field #3 of the Salinas Sports Complex, the San Benito infielders fell down three different times during routine plays, supplying the Cougars with extra outs.
Nevertheless, Ibarra (7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 9 K, 8 BB) and the defense found their footing when it seemed to matter most, while clutch hitting from Bre Fata (3-for-4, 3 RBIs) and Lindsey Clay (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) supplied more than enough offense for the Lady ‘Balers.
Clay’s bases-loaded single up the middle in the first inning plated a pair of runs for San Benito, and Bre Fata followed with an RBI single to score Lizzy Gatto from third base.
Later that same inning with Fata and Clay at first and third base, respectively, San Benito showed off their base running skills when Fata stole second, drawing a throw from Evergreen’s catcher, and Clay stole home on the throw to make it 4-0 San Benito after one complete inning.
The Cougars scored twice in the fourth on walks, but Fata had two more hits later in the game – each of which led to RBIs – that provided the Lady ‘Balers with some added insurance.
“Our offense came on and pulled it out,” Ibarra said. “I had everything I needed to pitch good for this game. It just wasn’t my day.”
San Benito, which has won 17 straight games, will play Carlmont Thursday. First pitch is 7 p.m. at PAL Stadium. No. 2 Monta Vista and No. 6 Gilroy will square off in the other semifinal game.
“I think if we play our best,” Smith said, “we’re gonna be tough to beat. They’ve got to come and try and beat us.”
EV 000 200 0 – 2 4 2
SB 400 121 X – 8 10 4
