Despite win over Palo Alto, coach says team isn’t playing to its
potential
San Benito continues to play winning softball as evidenced by its 8-0 win Friday over Palo Alto in the opening game of the Wilcox Mission City Invitational at Mission College.
But while the wins may be coming for the Haybalers (14-2), coach Scott Smith is concerned that the team isn’t playing up to its capabilities and doing the things that helped it win the Central Coast Section Division I title last season.
“We’re not playing to our potential,” Smith said. “We’re not doing little things in the past that have helped us win. We’re doing the big things better than we probably ever have, but we’re not doing the little things.
“We’re not playing ‘Baler softball. We’ve always prided ourselves with being fundamentally-sound and doing the little things and we’re just not doing ’em.”
Against the Vikings, who own a 4-11 record, Smith estimated the team committed five mental errors, including missing signs and making baserunning mistakes.
“We should be a lot smarter on the bases than we are,” Smith said. “We’re just getting a little complacent.”
Still, San Benito had little problems getting past Palo Alto. The ‘Balers scored in every inning except the sixth.
Elena Fata jump-started the offense with an RBI single in the first inning. The junior shortstop brought home another run with a run-scoring triple in the third and gave the ‘Balers their first multiple-run inning of the day when she blasted a two-run triple in the fourth.
“We were waiting for that big hit,” Smith said. “She hit the ball really hard. That helped us out.”
San Benito finished the day with 13 hits, paced by Fata’s 3-for-3 effort. Ashley Perriera singled, doubled and walked as she reached base each time. JC Clayton and Rachel Maheu also collected a pair of hits.
Sophomore pitcher Marissa Ibarra went the distance, allowing three hits, one walk and striking out 11.
“We felt like we were pretty much in control so we did a lot of different things with her,” Smith said of Ibarra, who only allowed one runner to get into scoring position.
San Benito continues play in the tournament with two games today. The ‘Balers play Independence at 12:30pm and Cupertino at 2pm at Mission College.
San Benito 1 1 1 2 1 0 2 – 8 13 0
Palo Alto 000 0 00 0 – 0 3 2
