San Benito swimmers make quick work of limited Alisal squad on
Friday
Two days removed from a 3-1 loss at Aptos, in a game where manager Michael Luna felt the ‘Balers needed to minimize their mistakes, the San Benito baseball team pushed past Los Gatos Saturday in an error-free, walk-free contest.
Powered by 10 hits and five innings of shutout ball from starting pitcher Steve Cabral, the ‘Balers beat the Wildcats 7-0 in Los Gatos.
“We played a very good game all around, both offensively and defensively,” Luna said. “We’re probably averaging four to five strikeouts a game, so you know we’re getting outstanding defense.”
Cabral allowed four hits and struck out one, while reliever Jacob Eichhorn pitched two hitless innings and struck out three.
The ‘Balers are now 8-3 overall, and remain 4-0 in the Tri-County Athletic League.
With the exception of their 5-3 loss to Valley Christian in the season opener, San Benito has allowed just 12 runs in their last 10 games, a low-scoring streak that includes now four shutouts.
Zach Canez went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs, while Spencer Brann’s two-run homer in the top half of the seventh inning was the icing on the cake for San Benito.
The pitcher Cabral helped his own cause with a 2-for-4 day, including two singles and an RBI, and Greg Huth supplied a pair of singles as well.
San Benito will play at Monterey in a make-up game from the Coast Classic Tournament on Thursday. First pitch is at 3:30 p.m.
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San Benito swimming
At Salinas, the San Benito swim team made quick work of Alisal Friday and qualified two more times to the year-end Central Coast Section meet, as the Haybaler boys won 114-21 and the Lady ‘Balers won by a 125-25 margin.
“They have a very young team, a beginning team,” coach Christine Schafer said of Alisal.
Perhaps getting a jump start on the league meet, Friday’s competition took place at Everett Alvarez High School where the Tri-County Athletic League Finals will be held later this season.
The ‘Balers are probably hoping they’ll post similar results for TCAL’s as well, as San Benito took first place in all 12 events for both boys and girls Friday.
San Benito’s Shelli Reed qualified for the CCS in the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 25.19, while Demi Gatrell added the 100-meter freestyle to her CCS events after she posted a time of 57.00.
Due to Alisal’s limited squad, diving did not take place on Thursday, while the San Benito junior varsity teams swam against themselves. The JV boys won 77-0, while the girls won 119-0.
The meet also allowed Schafer to break up some of her relay teams, and pit some of her top swimmers against one another.
“We used this meet to mix the kids up,” Schafer said. “That enabled them to race against each other and push each other. It allowed us to see what they can do, and their times were good.”
San Benito now has three weeks off until their next meet. The ‘Balers will host Palma and Notre Dame on April 3 (diving) and April 4 (swimming) in Hollister.
“Now we’re gonna do really hard training,” said Schafer, who is looking for her swimmers to peak toward the end of the season.
San Benito volleyball
At Willow Glen, the San Benito boys volleyball team went 0-4 at the Hammering and Roofing Seminar Tournament.
Coach Luis Espinoza said his team was placed in what was likely the toughest pool of the tourney, after San Benito battled Saratoga, Valley Christian and Westmont.
“We pretty much had three top teams in the CCS (in our pool),” Espinoza said. “It was frustrating, but at the same time, a lot of teams underestimated us.”
The ‘Balers fell to Saratoga in the opener in two games (15-25, 19-25) and Valley Christian in two games (20-25, 14-25).
San Benito played Westmont twice to round out the tournament. They lost 22-25, 20-25 in the first match, and 21-25, 14-25 in the second.
Erik Rodriguez led the ‘Balers with 21 kills through the tournament.
Last Thursday at Seaside, the ‘Balers went the distance with the host Spartans but couldn’t close the door in the end.
The ‘Balers fell in five games (17-25, 25-20, 25-22, 12-25, 13-15).
Adrian Rodriguez had 40 assists and Erik Rodriguez added 20 kills for San Benito, while Brian Hawks and Michael Gonzales each added 10 kills and David De La Cruz had 18 digs.
San Benito is now 0-2 in the Tri-County Athletic League, 0-9 overall.
The ‘Balers will host Watsonville Tuesday.
Gavilan softball
At Fremont, the Gavilan softball team went 2-3 at the Ohlone March Madness Tournament, scoring a 4-2 win over Napa Valley and an 8-0 victory against Yuba College.
The Rams lost to the College of the Siskiyous (10-2), Diablo Valley College (7-1) and Napa Valley (5-4).
In a pair of games from last week, Gavilan lost to Cabrillo (15-4) and Hartnell (6-3).
Gavilan is now 5-5 in the Coast Conference – South, 21-12 overall.
The Rams will host San Jose City College Tuesday.
San Benito tennis
At Hollister, the San Benito tennis team has run into the very best the Tri-County Athletic League has to offer in its previous two meets, and have subsequently hit a league skid that they’re looking to snap.
Last Thursday, the ‘Balers fell to Salinas 5-2, a team that San Benito coach Chris Yoder said will most likely be vying for the top spot in the TCAL with Palma.
No. 4 singles player Tony Culler and the No. 3 doubles pairing of Michael Labuguen and Conner Baray were the two point-scorers for San Benito, which fall to 0-4 in the TCAL, 2-4 overall.
“They’re looking pretty good,” Yoder said of his ‘Balers. “We could have done a little better, but they were skilled.”
In singles, Culler defeated Brennan Patton 6-4, 6-1 in the No. 4 spot.
San Benito’s No. 1 singles player, Derek Panger, fell to Farren Casad 2-6, 2-6, while Mark Tobias lost to Salinas’ John Hackbert 2-6, 1-6. At the No. 3 position, ‘Baler Joe Frusetta was defeated 0-6, 1-6 by Ty Giacalone.
Labuguen and Baray managed to pull out the win in doubles, where they defeated Chris Baibeau and James Braro 7-5, 6-4.
But the Hollister pairings were unable to find similar results in the top two spots.
At No. 1, DJ Nielson and Jon Rudolfs fell 3-6, 4-6 to Ryan Schimizu and Steven Bateman, while the No. 2 team of Austin Pan and Jade Kimura lost to Adam Krause and Aaron Osgood 1-6, 4-6.
The ‘Balers will host Gilroy Tuesday at the Ridgemark Golf and Country Club at 3:30 p.m.
San Benito track
At Hollister, the San Benito boys team easily defeated Everett Alvarez 100-29 Thursday, while the girls did the same, although no score was reported.
“They looked good,” boys coach Iran White said. “We had a few injuries, which was a little worrisome, but our next dual meet isn’t until April 3.
“But the kids came to play and it showed.”
San Benito will compete at the West Valley Relays this weekend at West Valley College.
