Well, nobody saw this coming. In the Tri-County Athletic League,
a league dominated in years past by Notre Dame and Salinas, the San
Benito Lady ‘Balers have made a name for themselves and cleared
room at an otherwise crowded top.
Well, nobody saw this coming.
In the Tri-County Athletic League, a league dominated in years past by Notre Dame and Salinas, the San Benito Lady ‘Balers have made a name for themselves and cleared room at an otherwise crowded top.
And they’ve done so rather convincingly.
On Tuesday, San Benito defeated Alisal in Salinas 6-1. The victory over the Trojans marked the 15th straight win for the Lady ‘Balers this season, who’ve compiled a perfect, undefeated record in the TCAL thus far.
More importantly, the win at Alisal gave San Benito at least a share of the TCAL crown.
“It doesn’t get old at all,” coach Ed Cecena said. “I could get used to this.”
At the beginning of the season, Cecena figured Notre Dame and Salinas had just a little bit more in terms of depth to be battling for TCAL title. It was always a goal of San Benito’s to be competing for the league championship, of course, but players and coach alike didn’t foresee the storybook run the Lady ‘Balers have had.
“And that’s why this season has been such a pleasant surprise,” Cecena added. “I was wrong about our depth.”
San Benito’s depth has powered them past tennis powerhouses such as Notre Dame, who the Lady ‘Balers hadn’t defeated in six years.
This year, they beat them twice (4-3, 5-3).
In fact, in Cecena’s six years of coaching, they hadn’t defeated non-league opponents in Carmel and Aptos.
San Benito ended that streak this year as well, defeating Carmel 6-1 and Aptos 4-3.
It’s been a year of firsts to say the least.
“This has been the best team dynamic we’ve had,” said Amanda Marshall, the team’s No. 1 singles player. “It’s great to be friends with all your teammates.”
Despite picking up wins against Carmel, Aptos and Notre Dame, though, everything is business as usual for the Lady ‘Balers, who’ve entered each match with the same purpose: Play focused, play hard and play the best you can.
Today, the Lady ‘Balers will battle Salinas in their final regular season match of the year. Although they already can claim a portion of the TCAL title, San Benito has one more match against a formidable opponent to claim an undefeated record, as well as the TCAL outright.
But it’s simply business as usual the Lady ‘Balers.
“We just go out there and have fun,” said Elena Fata, who along with Rachel Maheu, make up the No. 1 doubles team.
Added Maheu, “Whatever happens, happens. Before [Wednesday], I probably couldn’t tell you our record. I just knew we hadn’t lost.
“We want to win, we’re really excited for it, but it’s just another match.”
Said Fata, “We don’t want to be co-champs.”
A win today against Salinas would give San Benito the TCAL title all to their own.
Earlier this year, when the Lady ‘Balers hosted the Cowboys at the Ridgmark Golf and Country Club, San Benito narrowly edged Salinas 4-3. The one-point win was nabbed when the No. 3 doubles pairing of Bri Ahumada-Wolfsmith and Rachel Smith beat Jannie McDonald and Kylie Knoles-Barnett 5-7, 6-4 and 10-6 in a super-tiebreaker.
“They’re really loose and relaxed, but not too loose and relaxed. We do work hard in practice,” Cecena said. “We understand what’s on the line, but we know the world isn’t going to come to an end if we don’t achieve that perfection.”
Nevertheless, either San Benito goes undefeated or they finish the year with one loss, they are, at the very least, co-owners of the TCAL crown. And that can’t be taken away.
San Benito will play at Salinas today at 3:30 p.m. Said Cecena, “It’s a tough match, but it’s just another match.”
While much has been made of the team’s depth at doubles, Marshall said this year, everyone stepped up their game.
“We’ve already beaten [Salinas],” Marshall said. “If anyone has to prove themselves, it’s them.”
