Seedings for the Central Coast Section Division I Championships
were announced on Saturday, but it wasn’t much of a surprise as to
who would earn the top spot.
The four-time defending Division I champion Lady Balers
corralled the No. 1 seed for the second time in three years, and
they did so behind a Tri-County Athletic League title and their
22-4 overall record.
No other team in Division I had more than 18 wins this season,
not even second-seeded Fremont (18-4).
HOLLISTER
Seedings for the Central Coast Section Division I Championships were announced on Saturday, but it wasn’t much of a surprise as to who would earn the top spot.
The four-time defending Division I champion Lady Balers corralled the No. 1 seed for the second time in three years, and they did so behind a Tri-County Athletic League title and their 22-4 overall record.
No other team in Division I had more than 18 wins this season, not even second-seeded Fremont (18-4).
“We were pretty far out in front,” said San Benito manager Scott Smith, whose Lady Balers compiled an average of 2.98 power points a game, while Fremont averaged 2.74 power points.
Earning a bye through this week’s first round, San Benito will be able to catch its breath after a wild three-game slate to close out the regular season, in which the Lady Balers dropped a pair to Notre Dame before recording a come-from-behind extra-inning victory over Gilroy in the regular-season finale.
San Benito trailed 4-2 in the top of the seventh inning last Thursday and had two outs to its name when Nicole Rianda turned on an 0-1 pitch and drove it over the left-field fence to tie the game at 4-all. Later, in the ninth inning, San Benito freshman Brittany Sparrer plated the eventual game-winner on a wild pitch as the Lady Balers eked out a 5-4 shocker and a share of the league championship with Notre Dame.
“Pitching-wise, I think we’re doing pretty good,” said Smith, noting the recent play of Megan Sabattini, who tossed four innings of shutout softball against Gilroy last Thursday.
San Benito won’t open postseason play until Saturday’s quarterfinal round, though, when it will play either No. 8 Palo Alto (18-9) or No. 9 Salinas (12-11) at the Salinas Sports Complex.
Smith often displays a rooting interest for the TCAL and its member schools, although playing Salinas for a third time might not be in San Benito’s best interest, despite having topped the Cowboys twice already by margins of 5-1 and 3-0.
As for Palo Alto, which is coming off an 8-7 victory over Fremont to close out the regular season, Smith said the Vikings boast a couple of strong hitters and a fair defense.
“Our younger kids are starting to feel a little bit of the pressure, making nervous mistakes,” Smith said. “But we’ve got a week of practice to work through it and hopefully we’ll be ready.”
With No. 5 Santa Teresa (17-9), No. 12 Gunn (18-9) and No. 13 Watsonville (15-12) all on San Benito’s side of the bracket, the Lady Balers could see their best competition in No. 4 Wilcox (17-10) if they are able to advance.
The two teams battled in last year’s semifinal — a 1-0 San Benito win — and could see each other again in the same round this season. For what it’s worth, though, the Lady Balers already defeated the Chargers by a 4-1 margin on April 10.
Meanwhile, Fremont, No. 3 Gilroy (15-7), No. 6 Leland (16-9), No. 7 Carlmont (15-11-1), No. 10 Santa Clara (18-8) and No. 11 Homestead (14-13) make up the opposite side of the bracket.
“Outside of having Salinas on our side of the bracket,” Smith said, “I think we got a fortunate draw.”
