The San Benito freshman softball team wrapped up its season
Thursday with a 10-3 win over North Salinas.
The San Benito freshman softball team wrapped up its season Thursday with a 10-3 win over North Salinas.
The Haybalers finish the year 13-2 overall and 9-1 in league play.
“The girls had a great season,” coach Rebecca Gutierrez said. “I am proud of how the girls played as a team. They worked hard and had fun at the same time.”
Tiana Butler helped kick off the scoring Thursday with a second-inning triple. She scored on a hit by Francesca Duran. The ‘Balers added four more in the third to take a 5-0 lead.
San Benito pushed two more across in the fourth inning before North Salinas finally fired back with three unearned runs in the fifth. The ‘Balers tacked on two more in the seventh to account for the final margin.
Andrea Hernandez had two hits, Lauren Adamek had a hit and RBI, CiCi Chavez had three hits, Alyssa Abercrombie had a hit, Tiana Butler had two hits, Francesca Duran had a hit and RBI, Alyssa Cabral had a RBI and Ally Leitzel had a hit. Stephanie Young pitched a complete game, striking out six and walking one.
On Wednesday, San Benito earned a 10-9 extra-inning victory over Gilroy, overcoming some errors to pull out the win.
“The girls did not play to their potential,” Gutierrez said. “They made a lot of mental and physical errors that led to the unearned runs. The Mustangs played a great game and made the girls work for the win. ”
Gilroy scored twice in the first inning before the ‘Balers responded with a run. The Mustangs added a run in the second, but San Benito took the lead with three of its own to make it 4-3.
Gilroy took the lead back again with four runs in the third, but a five-run San Benito rally made it a 9-6 game.
It stayed that way until the seventh, when three unearned runs by the Mustangs forced extra innings.
Gilroy’s leadoff hitter reached in the eighth and stole second. But Young induced an out and then recorded a strikeout to end the threat.
In the bottom of the eighth, the ‘Balers took advantage of a pair of walks and Young hit a ball to deep center to drive home the winning run.
Duran had two RBIs, Chavez had a double and single and Abercrombie and Hernandez had singles. Young issued no walks and struck out eight.
