High School Sports

With its biggest turnout in several years, the San Benito High girls tennis team expects nothing less than a 180-degree turnaround from a 2016 season that saw it finish in last place in the Monterey Bay League’s Gabilan Division. Demoted to the Pacific Division...

Despite going 1-2 in the Homestead Tournament last weekend, the San Benito High boys water polo team is far from worried. In fact, the Haybalers are more confident than ever. “We’re looking a lot stronger this year for sure,” senior Oliver Garcia said. “I expect...

Before the season started, San Benito High football coach Bryan Smith said Adam Mendoza’s name will be called early and often. It only took the first game of the 2017 campaign to see why. The versatile senior did it all last Friday in the...

Back-to-back Monterey Bay League championships, including an outright title last year. A 2017 California Interscholastic Federation Northern California playoff victory. Sixty-three—count, ‘em, 63—wins in the last two years, the most in any two-year stretch in program history. The San Benito High girls volleyball team is...

Jonny Gonzalez had a succinct response when asked about the outlook for the upcoming season. “Everybody is doing their job—period,” said Gonzalez, a senior running back who is one of the team’s top returners and leaders. “That’s the Baler way, and how football is supposed...

Perhaps it’s only appropriate former Haybalers standout Davonte Butler has earned a scholarship to play baseball at Cal State University Bakersfield—their nickname is the Roadrunners. And as Baler fans have witnessed the last couple of years, Butler is swift on the basepaths. On Aug. 7,...

When the University of Seattle baseball program first started showing interest in Mason Marquez at a showcase tournament at the end of May, the San Benito High senior didn’t think much of it. After all, several college coaches have come up to Marquez after...

When Emily Tonascia played at San Benito High School, she was known for her enthusiasm and positivity. The former Haybalers’ standout looks to bring that same mojo as the new coach of the girls volleyball team. Tonascia takes over for Ruth Testman, who stepped...

In terms of being consistently excellent, the San Benito High cross country teams are among the gold standard in the Central Coast Section. The boys and girls squads routinely finish first or second in league, and in most years, place in the top 10...

Anzar High School was two to three days from having its football season cancelled due to not having a coach. Instead, the Hawks will be starting their seventh season of football on Sept. 2 at home against King’s Christian-Lemoore. The San Juan Bautista school...