From 100 victories to 1,000 points, 2009 was a year of
milestones among local sports
1. Marisa Ibarra’s Final Stat Line
Even though it wasn’t announced until after the fact, Marisa
Ibarra’s 100th victory as a pitcher for San Benito High, as well as
her final statistics as the Lady Balers’ ace for four years, was
the biggest and most significant sports story in San Benito County
in 2009.
A power pitcher of small stature, Ibarra was San Benito’s
varsity arm for four straight seasons, remained relatively healthy
for four straight seasons, and always had the offense and defense
to back her up when things weren’t necessarily going
swimmingly.
From 100 victories to 1,000 points, 2009 was a year of milestones among local sports
1. Marisa Ibarra’s Final Stat Line
Even though it wasn’t announced until after the fact, Marisa Ibarra’s 100th victory as a pitcher for San Benito High, as well as her final statistics as the Lady Balers’ ace for four years, was the biggest and most significant sports story in San Benito County in 2009.
A power pitcher of small stature, Ibarra was San Benito’s varsity arm for four straight seasons, remained relatively healthy for four straight seasons, and always had the offense and defense to back her up when things weren’t necessarily going swimmingly.
“I’m proud of the coaching and everybody that’s been a contributor to all of my success,” Ibarra said in May.
“It’s a good thing I’ve had the defense that I’ve had. We’ve always had a good team to get me there.”
Entering the season, Ibarra’s win total was on everyone’s mind. The hurler had accumulated nearly 80 victories atop the mound for San Benito, and was signed and sealed to pitch at San Francisco State the following year.
But Ibarra had so many victories over the previous three seasons that two slipped through the softball cracks. When she threw a three-hit shutout against Salinas on April 23 earlier this year, Ibarra figured it was only win No. 98 – two wins shy of the illustrious century mark.
“I really didn’t know,” Ibarra said in May.
It wasn’t until San Benito manager Scott Smith and coach Mike Maheu delved into four years-worth of score sheets later that week did they discover Ibarra’s 5-0 victory over Salinas was not win No. 98, but win No. 100.
“I never knew for sure,” she said. “I think I probably would have thought about it too much anyway. It would have been in the back of my mind during the game, and that wouldn’t have helped.”
Ibarra’s amazing prep career ended with a 4-3 victory over Gilroy in the Central Coast Section Division I championship – San Benito’s fourth straight CCS title – while her four-year career included a record of 108-11 (.901), which places her fourth all-time in California state history.
Furthermore, Ibarra threw 10 no-hitters, had four perfect games, and struck out 816 batters over four years. Of her 108 victories, 74 were shutouts, while her 43-5 mark in league makes her the winningest pitcher in TCAL history.
2. Lady Balers Claim No. 4
Whispers of dynasty following the San Benito softball team’s third straight Central Coast Section title in 2008 quickly turned to boastful screams in May when the Lady Balers made it four in a row, and did so in a shocking way.
Despite being the favorites – winning the previous three Division I championships can often do that – San Benito trailed league rival Gilroy in the CCS title game by two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, and hadn’t mustered much against Mustangs hurler Samantha Parraz all game.
But with Jessica Vest, Paige Miguel and Bre Fata occupying the bases, Lady Baler Jessica Steigelman lifted a two-out fastball to left field to clear the bases, and vaulted San Benito past Gilroy with an improbable, come-from-behind 4-3 victory.
“I was a little nervous at first. But toward the end of the game, I was relaxed and having fun and taking the swings I should have started off with,” Steigelman said afterward. “It was an inside fastball, and I was looking to pull the ball. It was the pitch that I wanted.”
San Benito’s four straight CCS titles is unmatched in Division I. Only North Salinas (2002 and 2003) and Monta Vista (1987 and 1988) have earned consecutive titles.
3. San Benito Football Returns to Prominence
It didn’t finish with the storybook ending some were hoping for, but the San Benito football team’s return to the postseason after a two-year absence was a bigger story than most.
Most people figured if they could just stay healthy, which wasn’t the case a year ago, the Balers would be able to deliver a winning season. But few predicted San Benito’s 2009 campaign, which saw the Balers accumulate 10 wins for the first time since 2001.
During the two previous seasons, in which they missed the playoffs both years, the Balers compiled a combined seven wins – 4-6 in 2007, 3-7 in 2008. But with a brand-new triple-option offense that surpassed last season’s point total in just the second game of the year, as well as a senior-laden defense that allowed a league-low 84 points all season, San Benito shocked the CCS with its 10-3 mark, which included impressive wins over Hill, Wilcox and Salinas – twice.
The ride finally ended with a 28-10 loss to Milpitas in the Division I championship game, but the Balers were back in the football spotlight, at the very least.
4. Lady Balers Win Back-to-Back Titles
Although perhaps less improbable than its 2008 title, the San Benito girls basketball team’s repeat performance in March was no easy feat – nor was it any less impressive.
With a target planted firmly on their back following the previous season’s 24-win mark, the Lady Balers battled through a brutal non-conference slate to open last season, including games against Skyline, Oakland Tech, Presentation and Miramonte.
It wasn’t until the Dons Club Holiday Tournament at Del Mar High in San Jose did San Benito began to return to winning form. Earning four straight victories at the holiday tourney, including a convincing 66-37 win over Evergreen Valley in the tournament championship, the Lady Balers started a winning streak that lasted 12 games, and didn’t end until Feb. 6 against North Salinas.
But following the 39-28 defeat to the Vikings, San Benito picked right back up again and rifled off seven more victories, including a 48-37 triumph over Evergreen Valley in the Central Coast Section Division I championship.
In the two complete seasons under head coach David Kaplansky, the Lady Balers have won two straight CCS titles, made two straight trips to the NorCal playoffs, and have compiled a 48-11 record.
5. Mike Pivetti Heads to Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo
Hollister roper Mike Pivetti qualified to the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in November with heeling partner Mike Christensen, but that was just the beginning to their roundabout story.
Pivetti and Christensen had previously roped together while attending Fresno State – Pivetti the heeler and Christensen the header – before taking a break following graduation. The chemistry simply wasn’t there at the time, and the two found other roping partners as a result.
But during their five-year layoff from each other, Pivetti and Christensen switched ends – Pivetti began roping the head, Christensen the heels. With their new roles, and after having little success with other partners, the two teamed up in August for a second try and wound up narrowly qualifying to the Dodge California Circuit Finals Rodeo in Norco, where they would rope three head in 21.5 seconds for first place.
Pivetti, a 1999 San Benito High graduate, will team up with Christensen again in April for the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, and perhaps add another turn to their full-circle roping story.
6. TCAL/MBL League Alignment
It started with grand aspirations, and ended with very little change.
But the league alignment vote among the Southern Conference schools that began in March set off months of appeals and recommendations, all eventually leading up to October’s final decision among the Central Coast Section Board of Managers to keep Gilroy High in the Tri-County Athletic League and place newly opened Christopher High into the Monterey Bay League.
The initial vote in March, which many believed would result in an equity league that would combine the TCAL and the MBL, instead resulted in Gilroy and Christopher joining the MBL.
But administrators, principals and athletic directors appealed the March vote, believing the TCAL would be left high and dry in the long run. A recommendation was later proposed that would simply keep Gilroy in the TCAL, while placing Christopher in the MBL, and all parties agreed after a three-pronged appeal process that concluded in October.
The Board of Managers approved the recommendation by a 40-1 vote.
7. Wade Jacobson Signs On at Washington State
It’s common for high school athletes to sign a National Letter of Intent to play sports at the next level. But it’s not everyday when the player transforms himself into a top recruit in just two years, then signs on to play big-time college football.
But Wade Jacobson did just that.
A 2008 graduate of San Benito High, Jacobson had every intention of attending culinary school following his prep career for the Balers, where he played offensive line. But after being approached by Gavilan College head coach John Lango in the spring during track season, Jacobson changed his plans and instead decided to suit up for the Rams in the fall.
Two years later, Jacobson was one of the top junior college recruits at the tackle position, and had offers on the table from San Jose State, San Diego State, Washington State, the University of Nevada at Reno and the University of Arizona.
At 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, Jacobson signed with Washington State in early December, and should be ready for Pac-10 football by the fall of 2010.
8. Vanessa Farias Eclipses 1,000 Points
It often takes four full years of basketball to reach 1,000 points scored, but San Benito guard Vanessa Farias did it just her second game into her senior season.
The Lady Balers’ leading point scorer in each of her four varsity seasons – from freshman to senior – Farias finished with 1,426 points scored in her prep career, which stretched 107 games. Although no historical statistics are known, you’d be hard-pressed to find another offensive threat like Farias in the history of the girls basketball program at San Benito High.
“I think anytime you score 1,000 points, that’s a milestone in high school basketball,” San Benito head coach David Kaplansky said in January. “It really shows the consistency she’s had for those four years.”
Although she set the millennium mark on Dec. 2 of 2008, when she dropped 23 points on King City, Farias’ prep career wasn’t complete until March when she helped lead the Lady Balers to their second straight section title.
Having averaged 15.59 points per game her senior year, 14.40 her junior year, 13.09 during her sophomore season and 9.64 points per game as a frosh, Farias finished with a 13.33 average over four seasons at San Benito.
She is currently competing for Westmont College in Santa Barbara.
9. Teammates Upset Tennis Favorites
San Benito seniors Vanessa Casalegno and Chelsea Yoakum had a somewhat unheard of winning streak going this fall. They hadn’t lost – ever.
Undefeated streaks happen every year, but the doubles team of Casalegno and Yoakum built a record of 41-0 during their high school careers. The two went 5-0 as sophomores, 19-0 as juniors and 17-0 during their respective senior campaigns.
But in the doubles championship at the Tri-County Athletic League Tournament in early November, in what would be their final regular-season match, Casalegno and Yoakum lost 7-6 (7-5), 1-6 and 10-4 in the third-set tiebreaker.
The duo that put an end to the streak was none other than Erin Glasspool and Rachel Smith, a makeshift doubles team who were also known as Casalegno and Yoakum’s teammates.
“I knew it’d be them,” Casalegno said in November. “If you think about it, they know everything about us.
“We’ve played them at least 10 times (in practice). I think it is disappointing, but if we had to lose I’d want to lose to them.”
10. Manny Jaquez Takes to the Mat
Manny Jaquez has never met a challenge he didn’t try to put in a headlock. A San Benito High freshman earlier this year, Jaquez took to the mat like a bull, and never let his physical impairment hinder his passion.
Born blind with microthalmic cystic eye syndrome, a condition where his eyes were underdeveloped at birth, the junior varsity wrestler competed valiantly in the 153-pound weight class last year, and remains on the team this season as well.
“In wrestling, it’s all about laying somebody down on the mat, and then being on top of them and winning with the whistle,” Jaquez says. “I’ve taken some down. There was one time where I scored points for a takedown at Rancho (San Justo). So I know how to score and I’ve won a couple of matches before. I know how to win a fight.
“I take it as a challenge, so I just go ahead and do it.”
Honorable Mention:
San Benito Cardinals advance to national championships in just their second year of existence; the Baler boys’ streak of seven straight Tri-County Athletic League titles in track and field comes to an end, while the Lady Balers earn their third straight; Nathan Winn qualifies to the First Tee Open; the San Benito boys volleyball team advances to CCS for first time since 2001; the Anzar cross country team’s back-and-forth relationship with rival York; Hawk Nick Tanouye becomes first-ever golfer from Anzar to advance to CCS; Hollister boxer Kelsey Jeffries loses her first fight since 2006; Gavilan College women’s volleyball team earns first-ever Coast Conference title.
