The San Benito baseball team is making a push for the Central
Coast Section playoffs in a big way.
The San Benito baseball team is making a push for the Central Coast Section playoffs in a big way.
The Haybalers have won three games in a row – against the three teams ahead of them in the Tri-County Athletic League standings.
Their most recent accomplishment was a 12-7 comeback victory against visiting Gilroy on Friday.
With three more games to go, San Benito (14-12, 6-6 TCAL) needs just one more victory to secure a .500 overall record to qualify for the playoffs.
“Guys just keep making good adjustments and hitting the ball hard,” said coach Derek Barnes. “It feels good for this whole team to get on a streak where you beat the three top teams in the league. We are hoping to finish strong in these last three games and see where that leaves us.”
San Benito had 12 hits in the game and has had 33 hits in the last three games.
The Balers were down 2-1 going into the third but put together five runs in both the third and fourth innings to build a 11-2 lead.
In the third inning, Breyon Canez singled, and Anthony Synegal doubled. Karson Klauer followed with a two-run double. Anthony Vasquez drew a walk, and Brett Fulgoni hit a three-run home run.
In the fourth inning, three Balers reached without hitting a ball out of the infield. Klauer scored on a wild pitch.
Drew Quintana hit a two-run single, and Scott Mead capped the rally with an RBI single.
Justin Patton pitched six strong innings, giving up five earned runs on three hits, while striking out seven.
“We’re capitalizing on the other team’s mistakes like they were capitalizing on ours at the beginning of the year,” Barnes said. “We made a complete 180-degree turn ever since the last tournament. We’re got more of that family aspect. It makes it fun to coach.”
In the fifth and sixth innings, Gilroy had runners at first and third with no outs, but Patton pitched out of both jams without allowing a run.
Ben Hemeon had a grand slam for Gilroy in the seventh inning, and the Mustangs had two solo shots in the second.
San Benito plays North Salinas on Tuesday and Salinas on Thursday before playing Palma at home in the regular season finale game on May 10.
JV Note: San Benito defeated Gilroy 4-3 after scoring three runs in the sixth inning.
Josh Garcia had an RBI sacrifice to bring home the winning run in the inning. The Balers (17-6, 7-5 TCAL) had ten hits as a team.
In the first inning, Brenden Flahery, who was 2 for 2 with two RBIs, squeeze bunted pinch runner Francisco Anaya in to score the first run.
Jeremy Bosio and Travis Ross were 2 for 3. Kyle Ferguson and Ryan McFall were 1 for 1. Dean Wilkins and Jacob Boyd were 1 for 3.
Kris Bittner (3-2) pitched the entire seven innings, striking out six batters to earn the victory.
