Balers’ team rounded out by underclassmen, few returning
seniors
The San Benito High boys’ soccer team had a record 72 athletes
tryout last month for the varsity team. When the dust settled only
22 of them had made the school’s varsity team and 23 more were
selected to compete at the school’s junior varsity level.
Much of the reason behind the record turnout can be attributed
to the coach who is now at the helm of the Baler program, Ben
Alvarez.
A soccer player of 25 years who was a Class I player on a number
of adult league teams in the Bay Area, Alvarez is a familiar face
to many of the players at San Benito High because he coached a
number of them in recent years during his stint as a soccer coach
with the Hollister Tremors youth teams.
Balers’ team rounded out by underclassmen, few returning seniors
The San Benito High boys’ soccer team had a record 72 athletes tryout last month for the varsity team. When the dust settled only 22 of them had made the school’s varsity team and 23 more were selected to compete at the school’s junior varsity level.
Much of the reason behind the record turnout can be attributed to the coach who is now at the helm of the Baler program, Ben Alvarez.
A soccer player of 25 years who was a Class I player on a number of adult league teams in the Bay Area, Alvarez is a familiar face to many of the players at San Benito High because he coached a number of them in recent years during his stint as a soccer coach with the Hollister Tremors youth teams.
“I’m very, very excited,” he said. “Most of these kids have played with me at one time or another. A lot of them have been with me for quite some time and many of them didn’t make the team but at this level it’s much more competitive.”
This year the Balers take the field with only four returning seniors and a number of underclassmen players. But even with the lack of experience, Alvarez is confident that his team will perform much better on the field than last year’s team, which finished 4-12-2 overall and 3-8-1 in league.
“It’s exciting. These players have their hearts into it and they’re putting 100 percent into it,” Alvarez said. “But this is still going to be a building process. The goal this year is to win 50 percent of our games. So far, I am happy with what we have done.”
As of The Pinnacle’s deadline the Baler boys’ soccer team had posted a non-league record of 1-1-2.
“Gilroy High is still the favorite but I’m very happy with the way we have been training,” Alvarez said. “The first few games we were just trying to adjust and work on our chemistry. After watching us play the last game I think the sky is the limit.”
Alvarez hopes his team can reach that apex by the time league play gets under way on Tuesday at Palma High School.
Although the team is relatively young this season the Balers do have a slew of players on the roster that have impressed the new coach. One of them is junior goalie Edgar Fernandez.
“He has great ability to read the play, whether it’s coming from the left or the right, and he knows when to come out and stay in,” Alvarez said. “He blocks the angles very, very well. I’m very impressed with him.”
Although Alvarez had never coached Fernandez prior to this season, he was most impressed with his work ethic, the fact that he’s a team player and desires to give it “110 percent.”
At the high-profile sweeper position the Balers will use junior Daniel Pape, who played several years under Alvarez when he was with the Tremors.
“He understands the game very, very well and directs the defense well,” Alvarez said.
Another sweeper the Balers will use in the lineup this year is junior Nick Soza, who will also see action as a stopper. So far, Alvarez has been most impressed with his aggressive style of play, and raw speed.
“When there’s a breakaway, he has makeup speed,” Alvarez said. “He also has a lot of heart.”
At right midfield the Balers will look to junior Esrain Espinoza to get the job done. In the early going this season Espinoza has two goals to his credit.
“He’s a team leader and an outstanding player,” Alvarez said. “I think he’ll get something out of soccer. I see him playing somewhere in college.”
At center midfield the Balers will look to experienced senior Noe Magana to direct the flow of the game, create opportunities for the forwards and be able to spread the field at the appropriate time to set up plays.
“He’s a great athlete and he knows the game,” Alvarez said.
Josh Flores will handle the duties this year in the demanding center forward spot, and so far this year he has played the position well enough to lead the team in scoring with three goals.
“I tried him out and I really liked his skills,” Alvarez said. “He’s doing very well. We tried him out at forward and he’s been outstanding. He’s one of those guys who can get a burst of speed out of nowhere.”
Another forward to keep an eye on this season is sophomore Alex Castillo.
“He too has a lot of speed and for his age he’s extremely aggressive,” Alvarez said. “He also listens well and applies what I say out on the field.”
One freshman to make the varsity squad this year was Tony Gonzalez. Although he’s smaller than most of the athletes he’ll go up against this season, he could get some playing time off the bench at the sweeper position.
“He’s going to be a good defender,” Alvarez said. “I really liked what I saw in him at the tryouts. He’s young but in a few years he’s really going to be something. It’s tough to explain how he plays but he’s real cool under pressure. He just knows what to do.”
