Lineup shuffle lets more players contribute, but San Benito
falls 5-2 to LO
Hollister – Thrust into action at the last minute, four San Benito tennis players took the court intent on providing the ‘Balers with a winning spark Tuesday. With a revamped lineup featuring two doubles teams new to the varsity scene, San Benito held its own with Live Oak, pushing the visiting Acorns to several deuce points, but fell 5-2 in Hollister.
“The scores didn’t reflect what really went on,” ‘Balers head coach Leanna Morgan said. “Live Oak just got the better of us. The boys worked real hard and were disappointed with the loss.”
Though they have played in exhibition matches for San Benito this season, Craig Lanning, Alan Gutierez, Sean Fridmen and Joseph Frusetta hadn’t competed in a varsity match, but Morgan was pleased they adapted to their late addition without a hitch.
“I thought they played very well considering the circumstances,” Morgan related. “The boys played their hearts out considering everyone was playing up a notch or two. I can’t count how many deuces they had between the matches, but unfortunately Live Oak was winning more games than we were.”
The Barker brothers – Trevor and Cameron – recorded San Benito’s two victories on the day. No. 2 singles player Trevor defeated Live Oak’s Jim Shedden 6-3, 6-0, while Cameron set down Danny Smith in the No. 3 singles match in straight sets.
In the top singles match, Acorns No. 1 Eric Matsumoto defeated San Benito’s Daniel Coffey, 7-5, 6-3.
Live Oak swept the three doubles matches and also won the No. 4 singles competition. None of the seven matches required a third set.
Following a long layoff with the bulk of the Tri-County Athletic League breaking for vacation the week after the Haybalers, Morgan said her team wasn’t playing at its peak.
“It was really hard to come off Spring Break,” Morgan said. “The school schedules didn’t coincide with the athletic schedules really well and that was tough. It affects your play when you’re taking long breaks like that.”
After falling to 4-5 in TCAL matches, San Benito has a chance to even its record at .500 this afternoon. The ‘Balers visit Gilroy in their regular season finale with the intent of duplicating their earlier victory over the Mustangs.
“Playing the second round is never easy,” Morgan shared. “We’re going to have to go in there with our ‘A’ game no matter what.”
San Benito (5-6) then competes in the TCAL Championships beginning on Friday at North Salinas.
