Softball team wins 10-0 over North Salinas; Boys volleyball
falls to Seaside in four games; Golfers second at TCAL Tournament;
Tennis team loses to powerhouse Palma; Anzar golfers seeking more
players for MTAL competition
Hollister
Manager Michael Luna is hoping this is a wake-up call.
After taking a pair of rollercoaster victories against rival Gilroy last week, the San Benito Haybalers hosted visiting Everett Alvarez Tuesday – a team with just a single win this season in the Tri-County Athletic League.
Perhaps coming down from back-to-back extra-inning wins, or maybe even looking past the Eagles, the Haybalers went to the brink of defeat.
Late errors by Alvarez, however, provided the Hollister baseball team with a 9-8 win in the end, and improved the ‘Balers’ record to 11-0 in the TCAL.
“The bottom line is that we won,” Luna said. “Everything we tried to do we didn’t get done.
“We had our chances in two or three different innings with runners in scoring position and with less than two outs, and we just couldn’t get a hit.”
The Eagles plated five runs in the third inning and one in the fourth to take a 6-3 lead on San Benito, which are winners of eight straight games now and 12 of their last 13.
Although Luna was not pleased with his team’s sense of urgency, the ‘Balers managed to tie the game in the bottom half of the fourth on a bases-clearing triple from Ronnie Fhurong, then scored three more in the sixth off three straight errors by Alvarez.
Trailing 9-6 in the seventh, the Eagles made it interesting by scoring a pair of runs, but reliever Steve Cabral got the remaining two outs of the inning, including a strikeout to end the game.
The five-spot in the fourth, where San Benito hit two batters and committed two errors, marked the third game in a row where the ‘Balers have allowed four or more runs in a single inning.
“In our sense of urgency, which we preach every day, it should start at the first pitch, no matter who we play,” Luna said. “Our sense of urgency didn’t start until we were behind 5-3. And even then, I didn’t think it was at its highest level.
“The sense of urgency – to get things done right now – wasn’t very apparent.”
San Benito started the game on somewhat of a positive note, however, as Zach Canez took the first pitch of the game out of the park. Later in the inning, after Brian Haggett doubled, the ‘Balers loaded the bases and scored two more runs on a hit-batsman and a walk, but couldn’t plate any more runs despite just one out at the time.
Fhurong, who finished with four RBIs, tied the game at 6-all on his three-run triple – a soft liner down the right-field line that stayed fair by about six inches, Luna said.
Jacob Eichhorn (3 IP, 5 runs, 3 hits, 5 K’s, 3 HBP) started for San Benito and was later relieved by Miles Sanchez (3 1/3 IP, 6 hits, 6 K’s), who earned the win for the ‘Balers.
San Benito (18-4 overall) will play at Everett Alvarez Thursday in Salinas. First pitch is at 4 p.m.
“I just want to see a sense of urgency on our part,” Luna said of Thursday’s contest. “I want us to put together a very good game offensively, defensively and pitching.
“We’re just escaping with victories. Sooner or later, it’s gonna come back at us.”
EA 005 100 2 – 8 8 3
SB 300 303 X – 9 8 3
SAN BENITO BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Hollister
As San Benito coach Luis Espinoza sees it, the Seaside Spartans always bring the best out of his team.
Tuesday night’s contest seemed to be no different, as the Haybalers battled for four games before falling to the first-place Spartans (20-25, 23-25, 25-20, 22-25).
San Benito falls to 4-5 in the Tri-County Athletic League, while Seaside strengthens their placing atop the league with a 9-0 record.
“When it comes to Seaside, they bring the best out of us,” Espinoza said. “When you play Seaside, you can’t make a mistake. We made few, but they capitalized on them.”
The ‘Balers were without kill-leader Erik Rodriguez, who is battling an injury and is said to be out the next two weeks.
Luis Bradley and Jakob Rice looked to fill in and supplied nine and seven kills, respectively, while Adrian Rodriguez and Rice each had four blocks.
David De La Cruz added 29 digs and Daniel Ruiz had 16 for the ‘Balers.
“They’re one of the best teams on defense,” Espinoza said. “We have great defense, but the defense that won today was Seaside.”
The two teams seemingly battled back and forth throughout the night with neither team grabbing on to a sizable lead. In fact, Seaside’s largest lead in any game came in the fourth, when they led 21-14. Although the Spartans took that deciding fourth game, San Benito came back late and cut that seven-point cushion to a tight 23-22 deficit.
The ‘Balers scored their lone win in the third game, where there was five ties and four lead changes. San Benito took the lead for good at 18-17 after Seaside’s attempt went out of bounds, and later sealed the victory behind the hand of Elijah Pollard, who had three kills to finish the third game.
“I think it’s because of the competition and the adrenaline,” said Espinoza, regarding his team’s rise in play against Seaside. “For the last three years as a varsity coach, it’s always been that way. It’s fun to watch, even though we were on the losing part. It makes you want to coach.”
Last weekend, San Benito went 0-4 at the Charger Classic in Leland.
The ‘Balers (6-18 overall) will play at Watsonville Thursday. Match time is 6:30 p.m.
SS 25 25 20 25
SB 20 23 25 22
SAN BENITO SOFTBALL
Hollister
San Benito’s six-run sixth against visiting North Salinas Tuesday provided the exclamation point for the Lady ‘Balers, as they won 10-0 in six innings and improved to 6-0 in the Tri-County Athletic League.
San Benito, which has only allowed 20 runs through 23 games this season, has yet to have given up a single run in league this season.
Tuesday’s game against the Vikings was no different.
Pitcher Marisa Ibarra threw six innings of one-hit softball, striking out nine.
“She was solid,” manager Scott Smith said. “It makes us so relaxed when Marisa is pitching.
“When Marisa is getting in trouble, she makes really quality pitches. She’s pitching phenomenal right now.”
With Ibarra conquering the Vikings, Elena Fata’s two-out solo homer in the first inning was enough to supply the win for San Benito.
“Again, it’s the power,” Smith said. “We’re getting extra-base hits, and that makes the difference.
“We were fairly disciplined at the plate.”
Although a single run was all San Benito would need, a single run was not all they would get.
Lindsey Clay’s RBI double in the fourth scored Lizzy Gatto, while Clay would later score in the inning off a North Salinas error to make it 3-0.
In the following inning, Gatto doubled in Fata to give San Benito a 4-0 edge, and in the sixth, they loaded the bases full with Lady ‘Balers.
JC Clayton hit a high chopper to score Bre Fata, and Rachel Maheu followed with a two-run single up the middle that scored Haley McFarlane and Bri Romero. Elena Fata then blasted a triple to deep left field, scoring Maheu and Clayton, while she would later score on a fielding error by North Salinas.
The game was called due to the 10-run rule.
Tuesday’s win marks the completion of the first half of San Benito’s league schedule. On Thursday, they’ll visit Salinas to take on the Cowboys.
Earlier in the season, San Benito defeated Salinas 8-0. First pitch is at 4:30 p.m.
SAN BENITO BOYS TENNIS
Hollister
The San Benito boys tennis team played in their second to last meet against Palma Tuesday, but couldn’t overcome a strong Chieftain squad and fell 6-1 at the Ridgemark Golf and Country Club.
The ‘Balers’ lone win came via default at the No. 3 doubles position, where Jade Kimura and Michael Labuguen won by forfeit.
“Palma is the best team in the league,” coach Chris Yoder said. “We need more experience and we need more games in order to beat those guys.
“I was really proud of our guys’ effort”
No. 1 singles player Derek Panger fell to Nick Franscioni 6-1, 6-3, although he did manage to improve as the match progressed, even taking some games in the second set.
“I think I played pretty well. Even though I lost, I still felt like I hit the ball well,” Panger said afterward. “I got a few more games on the end.
“But [Palma] beat Salinas 5-2 and Salinas is a really good team, so I guess that says a lot.”
San Benito will play Salinas Wednesday.
Said Yoder, “We need to play these guys. It’s good; we get an idea of what we’re gonna be dealing with (at TCALs).”
On Tuesday, Chieftain Dominic Ottone defeated Mark Tobias at the No. 2 singles position 6-0, 6-0, while San Benito’s Austin Pan fell 6-1, 6-0 to Dan Cunnane. At the No. 4 spot, Palma’s Jackson Scott beat Conner Bray 6-2, 6-1.
In doubles, Jon Rudolfs and Tony Culler teamed up as the No. 1 pairing, but couldn’t upend Chris Manlongat and Austin Duke, and lost 6-2, 6-2, while Joe Frusetta and Thomas Parcell lost in the third-set tiebreaker 12-10 to Hunter Johnson and Steven Hutchins in what turned out to be the closest match of the day.
San Benito will travel to Salinas Wednesday to take on the Cowboys at 3:30 p.m., before they begin to prepare for the Tri-County Athletic League Finals on April 29-30.
“Just play your best and see how it goes – try to find weaknesses (in your opponents),” Panger said regarding TCALs. “There are a lot of good No. 1’s, so it’s gonna be tough.”
SAN BENITO BOYS GOLF
Salinas
The San Benito boys golf team continues to make up ground on league powerhouse Palma, but the Chieftains managed to stay ahead once again at Tuesday’s Tri-County Athletic League Tournament, edging the ‘Balers by just seven strokes.
Will Cross shot a 37 at the Salinas Fairways Golf Course to lead the Haybalers to a team score of 196. Palma, though, took first with a 189, with medalist Joe Azzopardi carding a 36.
In each of the five TCAL Tournaments to date, the Chieftains and the ‘Balers have finished in first and second place, respectively.
Salinas (208), Gilroy (216), Alisal (231) and Everett Alvarez (242) rounded out the league competition.
Nathan Winn and Marcus Synegal of San Benito each shot a 39, while Joey Amaral had a 40 and Derell Aton finished the round with a 41. Justin Palmquist took a 45 Tuesday for the ‘Balers.
San Benito will play in their final TCAL Tournament before the finals on Thursday at the Salinas Fairways Golf Course.
Tee time is 3 p.m.
ANZAR BOYS GOLF
Pebble Beach
The Anzar Hawks boys golf team, which continues to battle low numbers on its squad, competed with three players at the Mission Trail Athletic League Tournament at Poppy Hills Golf Course Tuesday at Pebble Beach.
Although the Hawks were disqualified for not having a full team, Tim Trefts led Anzar with a 48 on the par-36 front nine.
Nick Tanouye was one stroke behind with a 49, while Ethan Petznick shot a 57.
Carmel’s team score of 201 was tops at the league meet.
“The wind was howling,” coach Will Trefts said. “It was a good round for Ethan. He’s making progress.
“Hopefully for Spyglass, we’ll have some more (players).”
Anzar will play in their next MTAL Tournament next Tuesday at the Spyglass Hill Golf Course at Pebble Beach.
