High School Sports

Brad Sparrer doesn’t need any motivation to stay out extra hours on the golf course. The San Benito High junior plays virtually everyday, a byproduct of his love for the sport and his drive to attain a high level. But it never hurts a motivated athlete to have an extra reason to improve, and that’s the case with Sparrer this season.

The San Benito High track and field team needed four buses to get to the North Salinas Time Trials on March 4. The Haybalers routinely carry around 200 athletes on their roster, and this year is no exception.

Hollister has never been a tennis town, but San Benito High boys tennis coach Rick Espino is looking to make it more tennis-friendly. Espino, who is also the longtime assistant girls tennis coach at the school, has plenty of coaching experience and the wherewithal to model what makes a thriving tennis community click: A program that allows players to compete year-round.

Faby Felix beamed with pride as she watched the athletes on the Anzar High track and field team compete in the season-opening North Salinas Time Trials on March 4. Felix, who is also the school’s cross-country coach, was downright ecstatic as she talked about standout Angel Garcia.

San Benito High junior Marisa Villegas was named the Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division’s co-Defensive Most Valuable Player for girls soccer. Villegas headlined a list of Balers who earned all-MBL honors.

This year’s San Benito High girls soccer team could make the case it was the best team in school history. The Haybalers won their first-ever Central Coast Section playoff game (not counting a forfeit victory against Palo Alto three years ago) before falling to Presentation 4-0 in a Division I quarterfinal on Feb. 27.

Players from the San Benito High softball team were going through their usual pre-practice stretches when the music came on. On this day, the first couple of songs came from the pop rock and hip-hop genres.

What the San Benito High boys volleyball team lacks in experience, it hopes to make up for in maturing talent. First-year Haybalers coach Eric Adams sees plenty of promise with his team, even though some of his players are in their first year of playing the sport.

The San Benito High baseball team enters the season as the best program to have never won a Central Coast Section championship—bar none. The Haybalers routinely send players to four-year programs and do well in the playoffs.

The San Benito High girls soccer team made history on Wednesday night, whipping host Westmont 4-1 in a Central Coast Section Division I playoff opener. The Haybalers won their first-ever section playoff game (not counting a forfeit victory over Palo Alto three years ago that was awarded one day after the game was played).