Chieftain Tyler Kofman hits two-run homer in seventh to tie game
3-3, Palma scores 4-3 win after Garett Schwartz’ RBI single in the
10th inning Friday afternoon in Hollister
HOLLISTER

Luckily for the San Benito Haybalers, they’re right back on the field Saturday morning when Alisal comes to visit, leaving little time to second guess or speculate what transpired Friday afternoon against visiting Palma.

While the Chieftains have probably been trying to forget Tuesday’s 7-5 loss to the Haybalers in which the private Salinas school committed eight errors and squandered a 4-1 lead in the fifth inning, they did manage to reverse their fortunes Friday in Hollister, nonetheless.

Palma received sweet revenge – a 4-3 victory, while San Benito probably felt like it received a punch in the stomach from the narrow defeat.

“It’s a good thing we play tomorrow,” San Benito manager Michael Luna said. “This is gonna be a tough one to forget.”

Although Palma trailed by three runs for much of the game, and even 3-1 heading to the bottom of the seventh, Chieftain Tyler Kofman blasted a two-out, two-strike, two-run homer over the left field fence to knot the game at 3-all in the final frame, while Garett Schwartz connected on a seeing-eye single into right field in the 10th inning that scored the eventual game-winner.

Despite just four hits – the first hit not coming until the fourth inning, the first run not until the sixth – Palma snatched certain victory from Hollister’s hands in an epic one-run win that lasted just shy of the three-hour mark.

“Obviously, I want to be 2-0,” Luna said. “But 1-1 against a good Palma team, I can live with that.

“My biggest concern was that we put eight zero’s.”

Eight straight innings without a run, that is.

The ‘Balers jumped on lefty starter Cameron De la Santos in the first two innings when Kyle Zozaya skied a solo homer into left-center field and Mark Hurley followed suit, ripping a two-run shot over the left field fence in the second to make it 3-0 San Benito.

But before things could get really out of hand for the Palma southpaw, De la Santos quickly regained control.

“I thought he got better. After Mark Hurley’s home run, I thought he settled down with his control,” Luna said. “He went to his off-speed pitches more after the second home run, and he was able to throw them for strikes.

“We weren’t able to make the necessary adjustments to get him out sooner.”

De la Santos finished the game after 4 and 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He struck out four and walked two.

San Benito, meanwhile, was unable to plate another run after the second inning, and even went 17 straight batters without recording a hit – from Steve Cabral’s single with two outs in the third to Cabral’s single with one out in the eighth.

The ‘Balers left nine men on base as well, seven of whom were in scoring position.

“Just one base hit and the game could have been over,” Luna said.

Cabral finished the game 3-for-5 with three singles and a run scored.

On the hill, San Benito used four pitchers Friday in the 10-inning affair (Tuesday’s starter Jacob Eichhorn was even seen warming up late in the game), including starter Darin Gillies (4IP, 1H, 0R, 3BB, 7K) and reliever Kyle Vallejo (1IP, 1R, 3BB).

‘Baler reliever Bryan Granger (2IP, 1H, 2R, 1BB, 2K) came into the game in the top half of the sixth with two inherited runners and no outs, and eventually bases loaded with no outs after an error in the field. But Granger got Palma’s Phil Creecy to pop out to right field, scoring Jamie Vega, then forced Justin Terrell to hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Despite the bases-loaded scenario, Granger allowed just one hit in his two innings of work. But unfortunately the hit came off the bat of Kofman, who tied the game at 3-all with one swing in the seventh.

“He just made a bad pitch and their guy capitalized on it,” Luna said. “Besides that one pitch, he pitched outstanding. That’s two consecutive outings where he’s done very well.”

Each team had their chances in the extra innings. Palma had men on first and second in the ninth with nobody out, but after DJ Slaton connected on a deep fly ball into right field, San Benito’s Mark Hurley then rifled the throw to third base to double-up Justin Terrell, who was tagging from second on the catch.

The ‘Balers, meanwhile, had a man on second with one out in the bottom half of the ninth, but the reliever Slaton struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.

And it was Schwartz who had the last word in the top half of the 10th against reliever Tyler Provost (3IP, 2H, 1R, 1BB, 2K), connecting on an RBI single between the first and second baseman that scored Vega from third base.

The ‘Balers put the tying run on second base in the bottom half, but were unable to plate their fourth run of the game.

“That’s just the way it goes,” Luna said.

San Benito (1-1 TCAL, 5-3-1) will host Alisal Saturday at 11 a.m., while Palma (1-1 TCAL, 4-1) will host North Salinas Saturday at the same time.

San Benito and Palma won’t see each other again until April 25.

Notes:

San Benito High School teacher Vince Parker threw out the first pitch of the game … Palma left seven runners on base, three of whom were in scoring position … San Benito starter Darin Gillies had a no-hitter through 4 and 1/3 innings pitched. Gillies was held to a pitch count, and left the game after 66 pitches. He started the game throwing six straight balls before striking out the side in the first inning … ‘Baler Steve Cabral will start for San Benito Saturday against Alisal.

PALMA – 000 001 200 1 – 4 4 1

SAN BENITO – 120 000 000 0 – 3 6 4

WP: D. Slaton (1-1)

LP: T. Provost (0-1)

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A staff member wrote, edited or posted this article, which may include information provided by one or more third parties.

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