Lady ‘Balers hit 2 home runs, shut out Notre Dame 4-0
Hollister
In hindsight, manager Scott Smith said it was perhaps a mistake sending Jessica Vest home. When it was all said and done, it would have been a mistake not to.
Vest’s solo home run in the bottom of the third inning was all the San Benito softball team would need Thursday, as the Lady ‘Balers won 4-0 against visiting Notre Dame and avenged a previous loss to the Spirits from last weekend.
Vest’s blast to left field was relayed to near-perfection by Notre Dame, but the fearless frosh rounded third and dove head first into home, sliding under the tag of Notre Dame’s catcher.
“I knew it was gonna be close because I could see the outfielder getting the ball, but I knew I was gonna make it,” Vest said after the game.
With leadoff hitter JC Clayton coming up, and with only one out, the decision to hold Vest at third base did pop into Smith’s mind.
“Ten out of 10 times, I’m gonna hold her,” Smith said. “It probably wasn’t a good decision to send her with JC coming up next, but it ended up working.
“Thank goodness she didn’t break stride … At some point, you’ve just gotta take a chance.”
Although San Benito plated three more runs later in the game, that chance ended up being the game-winner, as starting pitcher Marisa Ibarra allowed just four hits over seven innings to get the win.
Ibarra had five strikeouts in the game, but none were perhaps bigger than the K she got in the top of the sixth inning.
After the Spirits singled two runners on, and a fielders choice moved them both into scoring position with two outs, Ibarra struck out Shanae Gasperson to end the inning and keep Notre Dame off the scoreboard.
“She was great,” Smith said of his ace pitcher. “She was just relaxed.”
Relaxed and having fun is what the San Benito manager tried to instill in his team this week. At one point in the game, Smith had batter Lindsey Clay flash him a smile before she stepped back into the box.
San Benito lost to Notre Dame 3-2 in nine innings at the Charlie Miguel Invitational Tournament last Saturday, and Smith said the difference on Thursday was his team’s mental approach.
“I think we forgot why we’re out here,” he said. “The games are supposed to be fun … It was all about relaxing and having fun and not worrying about the big picture.
“This was our best game we’ve played all year. We pitched our best. We hit the ball better than we’ve hit it all year, and we played really good defense.”
San Benito connected for nine hits in the game, and blew the contest open with a three-run fifth inning.
Brittany Huff led off with a single and Clayton rocketed a two-run homer into right field. Elena Fata, who was 3-for-3 in the game, connected on a double to center field, and Lizzy Gatto hit a high chopper into left field that plated Fata from second.
“We talked about having fun all week,” Vest said. “If we’re having fun, no one plays better than us.”
Rachel Maheu was 2-for-3 with a double, while Fata’s day included a single and a triple as well.
Notre Dame’s Sarah Solis allowed four runs on nine hits through 4 2/3 innings. She struck out five.
San Benito is now 4-0 in the Tri-County Athletic League, 11-4 overall. The Spirits fall to 3-1 in the TCAL, 15-3 overall.
The Lady ‘Balers will open the Wilcox Tournament today, Friday, against Leland at Mission College at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, San Benito will play Palo Alto at 2:45 p.m. and have another contest at 6:30 p.m.
ND 000 000 0 – 0 4 1
SB 001 030 X – 4 9 0
