Softball, baseball team both shut out North Salinas, Everett
Alvarez, respectively
HOLLISTER
For a brief moment Tuesday night, San Benito’s sweep streak was in jeopardy.
“Yeah, I could feel the pressure,” said senior outside hitter Erik Rodriguez. “We just had to do what we had to do.”
The Haybalers have swept each and every one of their previous eight opponents in Tri-County Athletic League play, but following a comfortable 25-13 opening game victory Tuesday, the ‘Balers sat tied at 23-all with visiting Seaside in the second set.
But Rodriguez’ tipped ball at the net broke the tie and provided San Benito with a one-point edge, while a Spartan miscommunication on the following volley supplied the game-winner, as the ‘Balers took the second game and eventually the sweep (25-13, 25-23, 25-14).
Roy Powell delivered a team-high 10 kills, while Rodriguez added eight. Adrian Rodriguez supplied 30 assists.
San Benito (9-0 TCAL, 18-7) will visit Monterey Thursday.
SBHS Softball
Mari Vallejo’s RBI single in the fifth inning was enough for San Benito Tuesday, as Marisa Ibarra and the Lady ‘Balers shutout host North Salinas 4-0.
Ibarra (18-2) pitched a complete game, scattering four hits while striking out eight.
With a 1-0 lead going into the sixth, San Benito tacked on three more runs when Jessica Steigleman hit a two-run homer that scored JC Clayton. Later, following a Jessica Vest single, Bre Fata connected on an RBI single to make it 4-0.
Clayton was 3-for-4 at the plate, while Vallejo was 3-for-3 and Vest was 2-for-4.
San Benito (4-1 TCAL, 18-3) will host Salinas Thursday.
SBHS Baseball
Pitchers Jacob Eichhorn, Tyler Provost and Justin Schlie combined for a complete game three-hitter and led San Benito past host Everett Alvarez 9-0 Tuesday in Salinas.
Eichhorn threw five innings and allowed two hits and struck out seven, while Provost (1IP, 1K, 0H, 0R, 0BB) and Schlie (1IP, 3K, 1H, 1BB) finished the game in relief.
Meanwhile, San Benito’s offense was led by Ricky Garcia, who was 2-for-2 with a double, and Ramiro Chapa’s 3-for-4 performance.
Taking advantage of five Eagles errors, the ‘Balers scored one run each in the first three innings, then two runs each in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to coast past Alvarez.
San Benito (10-1 TCAL, 18-4-1) will host Everett Alvarez Friday.
A FULL WRITE-UP OF EACH GAME WILL BE POSTED LATER TODAY.
