Haybalers will try to avenge only loss in rematch against Valley
Christian
San Benito rallied with five runs in the top of the fifth inning to take down Wilcox 5-3 on Wednesday to advance to the championship game of the Mike Hazlett Tournament in Santa Clara
The Haybalers will square off against Valley Christian at 4pm Saturday at Washington Park. The Warriors beat San Benito 5-0 earlier in this tournament to hand the ‘Balers their only loss this season.
“We look forward to the challenge,” San Benito coach Michael Luna said. “I thought and my players thought we could compete with (Valley Christian). I think it’ll be another real good game.”
In order to get to the title game, the ‘Balers had to rally from an early 3-0 deficit against the tournament host Chargers.
Wilcox scored twice in the bottom of the second, getting a leadoff walk and a double to score the first run and scoring the second run on a two-out error. The Chargers added a run in the bottom of the third on a two-out single.
But the fifth inning was the ‘Balers inning.
Zach Canez led off with a double and Kolton Klauer singled to put runners on the corners. Three straight walks to Brian Haggett, Bryan Scott and Ronnie Fhurong produced the first two runs and San Benito tied the game when Kevin Medeiros hit into a double play to produce a run.
Nate Hopkins followed by being hit by a pitch and got in an intentional rundown to try to allow the go-ahead run to score. The Chargers then gave the ‘Balers some assistance when they threw the ball away and the run scored and Hopkins went to third.
Another Wilcox error allowed Hopkins to trot home and give San Benito the two-run advantage.
Jacob Eichorn pitched three scoreless innings to get the win. He turned it over to Miles Sanchez in the seventh, who pitched a scoreless inning to get the save.
