Sports

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.

Former San Benito High standouts Amy Quinones and Elijah Changco had terrific seasons running cross country for Sacramento State University this season. Quinones, a 2015 San Benito graduate, and Changco, a 2016 graduate, capped off their year at the Big Sky Championships in Moscow, Idaho on Oct. 29.

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.

When Yvette Felix is running with the lead pack, she sometimes finds herself in a state of wonder. After all, the 2015 Anzar High graduate was on the back end of the Hartnell College starting lineup a year ago, lining up as the team’s fifth, sixth or seventh runner, depending on the meet.

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.

Joseph Loredo decided to do cross country to stay in shape for wrestling. Angel Cortes only started running on the advice of his dad. A year ago, Elliot Ruiz didn’t think he would be one of the top runners on the varsity team. Cortes, Loredo and Ruiz’s paths have converged at tradition-rich San Benito, which usually fields one of the top programs in the Central Coast Section.