Like the boys water polo team, the San Benito Lady ‘Balers
enjoyed a banner year last season, taking second place in the
Tri-County Athletic League and winning their first-ever Central
Coast Section playoff match over Presentation.
Hollister – Like the boys water polo team, the San Benito Lady ‘Balers enjoyed a banner year last season, taking second place in the Tri-County Athletic League and winning their first-ever Central Coast Section playoff match over Presentation.
However, the squad lost seven seniors to graduation, three of whom were starters. Said Coach Lacey Sutton of the departed seniors, “They had experience and they had speed.”
With that, though, the Lady ‘Balers will be led in the water by Katie Buzzetta and Jayme Telles, two key returnees from last year’s team.
Buzzetta returns her scoring prowess, as she netted 90 goals last season, good enough for second in scoring in the TCAL, while Telles finished second on the team with 56 goals and a team-high 19 assists. Both girls were first team all-league selections.
Additionally, Sutton is expecting a lot from the Yoldi twins – Sarah and Lila – as well as Kelsey Russell.
“Our expectations are to win another CCS game, of course,” Sutton said, “and to basically have a good season and improve a lot … We’re hoping to take first or second in the league, and this is a game [today] that these girls want really bad. They’re very determined.”
Today, the Lady ‘Balers will look to deliver a repeat performance from last season, when they host rival Salinas at San Benito High School at 3:30pm. Salinas lost to San Benito twice last year and finished in third place in the TCAL, one spot behind the Lady ‘Balers, so today’s opening match could go a long way in determining the end-of-season standings.
“[Today’s] game will be one of the biggest games of the year for us,” Sutton said. “First game of the season, and with Salinas and Hollister, there’s a rivalry. It will determine position for the league tournament.”
The Lady ‘Balers may be entering the game at a disadvantage, as this will be their first game of the season. Salinas, on the other hand, played in the Lincoln Tournament last weekend, compiling a 2-1 record.
The one thing Salinas has is speed, so both Sutton and Buzzetta feel today’s game will be won or lost on the defensive end.
“I’d say we’re a younger team, not as fast or experienced, so that will be a challenge for us,” Buzzetta said, as the Lady ‘Balers have only five returning players. “We can handle them. We just need to give it 110 percent, but we can do it … All the girls are willing to work. They’re pushing each other and that helps.”
Buzzetta said usually the Lady ‘Balers will play a smaller team, a scrimmage or a tournament to get their feet wet for the upcoming season, so the match against Salinas will offer somewhat higher stakes.
“This year, we’re starting off with one of the tougher teams,” Buzzetta said. “I think that kind of does put us at a disadvantage, but I think we’ll be able to handle it.
“I played with a lot of the (Salinas) girls over the summer, and they’re gonna be good. They’re all swimmers. They have nice shots. Our defense is gonna need to be all the way up, because that’s what the game is going to be mostly for us is defense.”
Last year’s team compiled a 20-5 overall record, 7-2 in the TCAL, and the squad this year is looking to do much of the same, as well as beat Salinas and Santa Catalina, who defeated the Lady ‘Balers last year in the TCAL championship.
“It’s gonna be a hard year, but I think we can take second again,” Buzzetta said. “I think we can do it. I think we can take league if everyone keeps up what they’re doing.”
