Haybalers were in control early but the Live Oak bats got going
in the fifth
It was the biggest game so far this season for the San Benito High baseball team. And, through four innings, it looked as if the Haybalers were going to win it in convincing fashion.
But Live Oak isn’t atop the Tri-County Athletic League standings for nothing.
The Acorns found themselves down 0-4 to the ‘Balers, who were looking to take a piece of the TCAL title with a win on Wednesday, after four innings but battled back in the later innings of the game to take the 807 win and keep the league crown all to themselves.
The result: Hollister shares second place with Gilroy but must settle for the third seed in the playoffs, rather than the first seed the team would have locked up had it defeated Live Oak on Wednesday.
“That’s going to be a tough one for us to swallow,” said Hollister head coach Michael Luna. “The way we started the game, we really had the momentum. We just couldn’t put them away when we had the chance.”
The ‘Balers got going right away on offense. Lead-off man Karson Klauer coaxed a walk and then Scott Mead ripped a shot to center field. Both players advanced a spot on a passed ball with Anthony Vasquez at the plate.
On a 2-2 count, Vasquez connected with a pitch from Live Oak starter Eric Nelson. The ball screamed out of the infield and both Klauer and Mead came around to score.
Vasquez would score later in the inning off a nice hit up the middle from Breyon Canez with two outs down. The hit was playable but the Live Oak second baseman’s throw to first was weak, allowing Canez to reach safely and Vasquez to score from third.
Gabe Gaitan’s speed was responsible for Hollister’s fourth run of the game. The ‘Baler right fielder led off the second with a bunt for a single and made it all the way to third moments later as Hollister utilized its small-ball skills to get the runner in scoring position.
Nelson dealt a wild pitch to Brian Rossi and the ball got past the catcher. In an instant, Gaitan was gone, breaking hard for home. And his speed got him there before the tag to give Hollister the 4-0 lead.
But it wasn’t enough.
The Acorns got a run in the fourth to make it 5-1 Hollister but then exploded for six in the fifth inning to take a two-run lead at 7-5.
The ‘Balers tied the game in the sixth thanks to a nice at bat from Jason Allen that resulted in a walk, followed by a big hit from Vasquez.
The contest went to extra innings and Live Oak struck first on an RBI single from Bryce Wilson to score Ryan Bennett.
Hollister’s Mead made it to second base in the bottom of the eighth but the ‘Balers weren’t able to bring him across.
Hollister will find out who it plays in the first round following Saturday’s seeding meeting.
