After Lindsay Clay’s first at-bat, San Benito softball coach
Scott Smith told her he’d consider pinch-hitting for her if she
didn’t have a better approach at the plate.
Hollister – After Lindsay Clay’s first at-bat, San Benito softball coach Scott Smith told her he’d consider pinch-hitting for her if she didn’t have a better approach at the plate.
That came after she struck out swinging on a pitch well outside the zone and then reacted slowly to the catcher dropping the ball and was thrown out to complete the strike out.
In her next at-bat, the Haybalers’ junior designated player battled to a 3-2 count and hit several foul balls before exploding on an inside pitch for a home run that put San Benito on the board as they went on to beat Monta Vista 2-1 in the Central Coast Section Division I quarterfinals Saturday at Salinas Sports Complex.
“I tried to relax and stay calm and remember what I have to do,” Clay said. “I realized she was trying to pitch me inside and I just went for it.”
The win advances the ‘Balers (30-3) to the semifinals at 7pm Thursday where they will take on league rival Gilroy (25-7) at PAL Stadium in San Jose. It also marked the first time in school history that the softball team reached the 30-win plateau.
The game started ominously for San Benito. JC Clayton led off with an infield single, but was thrown out trying to steal second.
“I thought JC could steal off their catcher,” Smith said. “But she got a really bad jump. We gambled and the minute it happened I said to myself, ‘What are you doing?'”
That ruined the rhythm of the inning and the ‘Balers had a rare scoreless spot in the first. It stayed scoreless until Clay’s fourth-inning homer gave San Benito the lead, but that didn’t prove to be the decisive run.
The Matadors (19-9-1) threatened in the fifth, when a single by Anneliese Fotterman was misplayed in left field to allow Fotterman to get to third. The ‘Balers sophomore pitcher Marisa Ibarra responded by striking out the next two batters to end the inning.
But in the sixth, not even Ibarra could prevent Monta Vista from scoring. With two outs, leadoff hitter Jessie Barry got an infield single and stole second. Ashley Vernaza then battled through a seven-pitch at-bat before hitting a ball up the middle. San Benito shortstop Elena Fata made a diving attempt, but the ball got through and plated Barry.
“It was hard,” Ibarra said of the battle with Vernaza. “I didn’t know what pitches to throw to get her out.”
Sarah Hassman followed with a single, but it didn’t score the run and first baseman Audra Brown caught a foul pop up to end the inning.
The ‘Balers then got a break in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Lizzy Gatto hit a single to left. But much like the ball misplayed by San Benito to allow the runner to go to third, this one got past the Monta Vista outfielder. It rolled all the way to the fence and Gatto sprinted home with the go-ahead run.
“This was a big sigh of relief,” Smith said of the win.
Ibarra didn’t mess around in the seventh, retiring the side on just three pitches to earn her 57th career victory.
“Three pitches, three outs, I’ll take that any day,” Smith said.
Notes: The run allowed by Ibarra was the first in four career playoff starts. She recorded three shutouts on her way to helping the ‘Balers win the CCS title last season. The win moved her to 4-0 in postseason play and her overall record stands at 57-4.
Monta Vista 000 001 0 – 1 4 3
San Benito 000 010 x – 2 5 1Br>Martino and Barry. Ibarra and Perreira. WP – Ibarra, LP – Martino.
RBI – Vernaza (MV), Clay (SB). HR – Clay (fourth inning, none out).
