San Benito advances to tourney title game after coach mixes up
lineup
In hopes of shaking some players out of an offensive slump, San Benito baseball coach Michael Luna benched four of his starters and shifted his lineup around.
One of the beneficiaries was junior Ronnie Fhurong, who started the year as an occasional starter batting in the lower half of the order. Fhurong, who has started the last eight games, moved up to the No. 2 hole Wednesday and delivered – collecting three singles and driving in a first-inning run as the Haybalers beat Cupertino 4-0 at Washington Park to advance to the title game of the Santa Clara Bruin Classic.
“I didn’t play four starters because they’re struggling offensively and I wanted to see what other guys could do,” Luna said.
Nathan Hopkins earned his third win of the season for San Benito (10-2), pitching four scoreless innings before giving way to Kevin Medeiros. Medeiros threw 2 1/3 scoreless before Jacob Eichorn recorded the final two outs.
The ‘Balers scored the only run they needed in the bottom of the first.
Kolton Klauer led off by reaching on an error. He stole second and scored when Fhurong knocked a base hit up the middle.
San Benito added to that in the fifth when Bryan Scott brought a pair of runners home with a double.
The final insurance run came across in the sixth when the ‘Balers loaded the bases on a pinch-hit single by Justin Andrade and walks to Brian Haggett and Scott. San Benito then executed a trick play by having Haggett take an extended lead at second and intentionally trip. When Cupertino threw down to second, Andrade raced in with the final run.
The ‘Balers were helped out by error-free baseball for the fifth straight game.
“That’s almost unheard of at the high school level,” Luna said.
San Benito returns to Washington Park for the title game at 7:30pm today. The ‘Balers will face either Santa Clara or Wilcox, which faced off late Wednesday in the other semifinal game.
Cupertino 000 000 0 – 0 5 3
San Benito 100 021 x – 4 8 0
