There will be several changes for the San Benito High spring
sports season – the busiest time of the year for high school
athletics.
One of the most noticeable changes will be to the Baler baseball
program. Derek Barnes is taking over as the new baseball coach for
Neal Andrade, who resigned to lead Gavilan Rams.
There will be several changes for the San Benito High spring sports season – the busiest time of the year for high school athletics.
One of the most noticeable changes will be to the Baler baseball program. Derek Barnes is taking over as the new baseball coach for Neal Andrade, who resigned to lead Gavilan Rams.
Barnes will be assisted by Eric Diaz Sr., Bryan Humpreys and Phil Quintero. The co-TCAL champion baseball team begins its season next weekend in the Menlo tournament.
Chris Moore returns as the JV coach, and Robert Hopkins will head the freshmen team.
Scott Smith begins his second year as head coach for the varsity softball team. He led his squad to the Central Coast Section championship game before losing 3-0 to North Salinas last year.
Steve Grimsley moves up from freshman to JV coach, and Sara Pinkerton will lead the freshmen team.
Jennifer Logue will try to lead the track team to a seventh consecutive league title. Iran White takes over the boys track program. They will be assisted by David Kaplansky, Julio Trinidad and Cuco Chavez.
Both Baler swimming teams are coming off of league championship seasons – the girls’ second in a row and the boys’ first. Although the girls team finished behind Live Oak in the league finals, they won the league by one point after the season’s meets were counted.
Derek Kisling will be leading the girls team again this year, while former Baler Leif Nordstrom takes over the boys team.
San Benito Athletic Director Randy Logue was unsure if the school would be able to field a swim team this year after Joel Sims could no longer coach because of other commitments. But Nordstrom was selected at the last minute to head the program.
Leif and his brothers Bjorn and Lars were all standout water polo players for the Balers.
Another former Baler Ryan Hardin takes over as the new tennis coach. And Mark Tinder will take over the boys golf team after coaching the girls team last year. Ridgemark’s Mitch Thomas will be leading the JV golfers.
Henke Mao again heads up the boys volleyball and will be assisted by JV coach Adrian Masoni – a former Baler.
Girls volleyball coach Chuck Schallhorn resigned as head coach after last season to contrate more on teaching. Randy Logue said he plans to begin the search for a new coach in April.
