San Benito peaking at right time; No. 3 ‘Balers expect close
game against No. 6 Santa Teresa in CCS quarters
Hollister – After posting one of the most dominant victories in Central Coast Section playoff history, the San Benito baseball team enters today’s quarterfinal contest with Santa Teresa at the top of its game. The ‘Balers take the field at San Jose’s PAL Stadium looking to parlay that confidence and talent into their first semifinal berth since 2002.
“We’re going to be riding pretty high,” said San Benito head coach Michael Luna after his team throttled Oak Grove, 18-1, on Wednesday.
The ‘Balers’ domination was so complete that their pitching staff allowed the No. 13 Eagles just one hit – on a infield pop-up at that. Luna was able to pull starter Breyon Canez after the left-hander threw only 27 pitches, leaving No. 3 San Benito in ideal straits entering the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003.
To listen to the ‘Balers’ coach, San Benito (24-4) will need every possible edge to defeat No. 6 Santa Teresa.
“We’re going to be facing a pitcher who’s pretty good,” Luna said of Saints starter Eric Mattos. “As well as we’ve been swinging it, we haven’t seen a guy like that in a while. That’s always the great equalizer – the guy on the mound.”
Mattos, a senior right-hander, brings a perfect 6-0 record into the game.
With Canez (10-0, 1.80 ERA) expected to start for San Benito, the contest is shaping up to be the type of game the ‘Balers haven’t played too many of – a pitchers’ duel. But if the ‘Balers’ bats have anything to do with it, San Benito may club its way past yet another opponent.
The ‘Balers are riding a six-game winning streak and have scored double-digit runs in four of those contests. After battering Palma 17-7 in its regular season finale and then following up on Wednesday by scoring the most runs in a Division I playoff game since Wilcox defeated Santa Teresa 18-1 in 2002, San Benito hopes its hot swinging continues.
Santa Teresa head coach Steve Beaulieu knows his team needs to keep the ‘Balers in check in order to have a chance at winning.
“I’m hoping for a low-scoring game. I know they just scored 18 runs,” Beaulieu said. “We struggle to score runs, so obviously, if there are a lot of runs scored, we’re in trouble.”
But the Saints (20-6) have a six-game winning streak of their own and have been successful in winning the close ones all season. Santa Teresa pitchers have allowed just six runs in the team’s current streak, and just two opponents have scored more than four runs against them. In 26 games, the Saints have allowed just 47 runs.
Of Mattos, his starter, Beaulieu said: “We have a lot of confidence in him. He throws strikes and he competes, so we’re hoping he keeps us in the game.”
The Santa Teresa coach also will not hesitate to bring in closer Kyle Bellows (4-2, four saves).
Bellows, a senior, will start the game at shortstop and has already been earmarked by the San Benito coaching staff as a difference-maker.
“He’s the one guy we can’t let hurt us,” Luna said of Bellows.
After defeating No. 11 Piedmont Hills, 4-0, on Wednesday, Santa Teresa is also making its first quarterfinal appearance in the last three years. Beaulieu views his team as the underdog, but believes the Saints’ strong pitching and defense are enough to carry the team to the victory.
“Our kids are playing real confidently right now,” the Santa Teresa coach said. “It’ll be the toughest game of the year, no doubt. The 10 o’clock start is a real x-factor. … I would never want to play Hollister 10 times in a row, but for one game, seven innings, it’s just whoever plays better that day.”
The winner of the contest will play the No. 2 Bellarmine–No. 10 Mitty victor in the semifinals next Wednesday. After its phenomenal regular season spilled over into such a rousing playoff victory over Oak Grove, is there any chance San Benito may be looking past the Saints?
“There is,” Luna answered, “but that’s my job, to keep my guys focused … even though there is a tendency to look at Bellarmine.”
In order to have a shot at one of those West Catholic Athletic League teams, Luna knows the ‘Balers must win the game within the game.
“We’re facing a pitcher that has the potential of throwing up a lot of zeroes,” the San Benito coach said. “They always say good pitching beats good hitting. I guess we’ll see.”
