While preseason talk was about the Hollister High offense,
pitching and defense were the centerpiece of the Balers’ twin bill
sweep Saturday at the Coast Classic Tournament in Monterey.
While preseason talk was about the Hollister High offense, pitching and defense were the centerpiece of the Balers’ twin bill sweep Saturday at the Coast Classic Tournament in Monterey.
The Balers opened the season with a 7-3 win over Monterey and a 7-2 defeat of Saratoga, a team which 10-runned the Balers in last year’s tournament.
“We had great pitching and our defense was solid,” said Balers head coach Neal Andrade.
The Balers, weather permitting, are at Pacific Grove vs. the Breakers on Tuesday with games scheduled for Thursday and next Saturday.
Eric Diaz Jr. went the distance in the win over the Toreadores, giving up six hits.
“I wasn’t planning on Eric pitching the whole way, but his pitch count was low so I left him in,” said Andrade.
Josh Badillo had a double and Nathan Rowe had two RBI for the Balers (2-0).
In the second game, Rowe pitched six innings and Brett Fulgoni mopped up in the seventh. Junior Anthony Synegal, in his first day of varsity competition, hit a home run over the center field wall at Sollecito Park. Junior Justin Patton had a 2-RBI double.
