High School Sports

Surrounded by family, friends, teammates and coaches, Marisa Villegas couldn’t help but get emotional as she a letter of intent to run track and cross country at UCLA. After all, the San Benito High senior heard no less than a half-dozen people use the word “role model” to describe what she has meant to them over the years.

Drew Williams made a verbal commitment to play baseball at UC Santa Barbara in May 2015. On Thursday, Williams made things official, signing a letter of intent in the office of San Benito High School District Superintendent John Perales. Even though the senior shortstop knew this moment was coming for a while, he felt a wave of overwhelming joy when he signed his letter of intent.

Coming off an emotional loss to rival Palma, the San Benito High football team needs to rebound in a hurry if it plans on extending its season. The Haybalers (9-1) earned the No. 2 seed in the Central Coast Section Open Division I playoffs, opening with a 7 p.m. home game on Friday against fellow Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division member and No. 7 seed Salinas (5-5).

The soggy eyes and faraway looks said it all—this one hurt the deepest. Faced with a chance to beat its rival and win its first league championship since 2011, San Benito fell short in a 14-6 loss to visiting Palma Friday night.

For the second time in three years, the San Benito High cross country program made it a clean sweep in the Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division Championships. Last Saturday at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy, the boys and girls squads—despite not having a top-five individual finisher in the combined races (Gabilan and Pacific Divisions)—captured titles in workmanlike fashion.

Some weeks, one game looms above all others. On Friday, the Palma-San Benito game fits the bill. The winner clinches the outright Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division championship, and bragging rights for supremacy of the Tri-County area.

When it comes to winning championships, no one likes to share them. That was the attitude San Benito High had entering Tuesday’s home match against Monte Vista Christian. Five days earlier, the Haybalers had clinched at least a share of its second straight Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division title.

On occasion, the San Benito High girls volleyball team will sit in coach Ruth Testman’s classroom on campus and study film of a particular opponent. A week ago, the Haybalers watched film of Monte Vista Christian, which dealt them their only Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division loss on Sept. 29.

For most of the season, the San Benito High defensive line been able to stand and deliver. So it was only appropriate the Haybalers defensive linemen—along with a strong linebacker corps and ball-hawking secondary—produced several stops in last week’s pivotal 18-7 win over Salinas at The Pit.

The Haybalers keep on running over opponents.