Sports

One play encapsulated the Anzar High football team’s 60-42 loss to visiting Pinewood on Friday in an 8-man Mission Trail League game. Having just cut its deficit to 38-34 with 4 minutes, 4 seconds left in the third quarter, the Hawks (3-5 overall, 1-4 in league) looked like they were going to get the ball back with Pinewood facing a fourth-and-25 from its own 18-yard line.

No less than five minutes had passed when the talk of the Palma football team entered the conversation. San Benito High was in its postgame huddle, having just put the finishing touches on a 50-7 win over Christopher on Oct. 23.

Ryan DiSalvo is his own worst critic. The San Jose State senior long snapper and 2012 San Benito High graduate spends close to an hour everyday watching video of his snaps during practice and in games. Once DiSalvo starts the video, he watches for several things.

For the San Benito High boys water polo team, its Senior Day match took on extra meaning on Oct. 27. That’s because of the 12 players on the San Benito roster, nine are seniors. The senior class went out in style, helping to deliver the team a 9-6 non-league win over Palma.

When Andrew Sotelo turned 18 on Oct. 21, he gave himself a memorable birthday present—making a verbal commitment to play for the Cal State University Los Angeles baseball program. Sotelo can sign his letter of intent on the first day of the official signing period on Nov. 11.

The Hollister 21s 16-and-under travel-ball baseball team recently competed its season—and it was nothing short of spectacular. On Oct. 24, Hollister won the Halloween Bush in Ripon, defeating the previously undefeated Tri-County Spartans, 3-2.

GILROY—Until Friday night’s game, the last time the San Benito and Christopher football teams had played each other was in 2012. The Cougars probably wouldn’t mind if it was another three years—at a minimum—before they played the Haybalers again. San Benito mauled its third straight league opponent, 50-7.

For the second straight league game, the San Benito High football team’s defense stood tall. The Haybalers allowed only 129 yards of total offense in a 45-6 win over Monterey two weeks ago, and last week they limited Alvarez to just 79 yards—including 1 yard, yes, 1 yard—in the second half en route to a 63-6 victory.

Anzar High cross-country coach Faby Felix knows she has a major talent in junior Angel Garcia. The problem—and it’s a good problem at least—is Garcia has so much energy he doesn’t like to relax. Just like the Energizer Bunny, Garcia seemingly has no off button.

The San Benito High girls golf team has a senior-dominated squad that coach Carissa Filice said will be hard to say goodbye to at the end of the season. One of the half-dozen seniors include Isabella Arreola, a four-year varsity player.