San Benito edges Notre Dame in Circle of Champions semifinals in
showdown of TCAL’s top teams
Hollister – Never mind what happened in the championship game of the Circle of Champions tournament Saturday because San Benito showed in the semifinals that it is the team to beat in the Tri-County Athletic League this season.
Marisa Ibarra and the Haybalers impressed by beating four-time defending TCAL champion Notre Dame 3-2 in the semifinals, before a toned-down version of the team lost to Carlmont in the finals.
“I thought we did a couple of things wrong, made some mental mistakes, but I was really pleased,” San Benito coach Scott Smith said. “I thought we out-hit (Notre Dame) and out-pitched them and played better defensively.”
San Benito proved its grit by rallying from an early deficit to take the lead and pocket the win.
The Spirits, who have won the last 10 Central Coast Section Division III titles and every TCAL title since the league came into existence in 2002, got a fortunate bounce to plate a second inning run.
Kaitlyn Azevedo hit a hooking liner to right field that bounced off the chalk line and past the right fielder for a triple. She eventually scored on a RBI groundout by Ashley Medina.
But in the top of the third, the ‘Balers quickly fought back. Ashley Perriera reached on an error to lead of the inning and JC Clayton delivered a one-out single.
San Benito loaded the bases on a bunt single by Rachel Maheu and Lizzy Gatto tied the game when she hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field.
Elena Fata gave the ‘Balers the lead with an RBI single before Spirits’ pitcher Sarah Solis worked out of the jam.
San Benito got a much-need run in the fourth when Perriera doubled and scored on a Clayton single.
Notre Dame countered with a run in the fourth, but a double play ended the inning and the game was called after five innings due to the time limit.
“(The win) definitely gives us something to go for,” Smith said. “I still think we’ve got a little bit of a hill to climb. But this gives us expectations for the season.”
The ‘Balers opened the day by routing Monterey 6-0. Audra Brown blasted a second inning two-run homer and Ibarra fired a five-inning no-hitter, striking out five while allowing only a walk.
Ibarra was kept out of the circle for the title game against Carlmont as Smith chose to not give the Scots the opportunity to gain some experience against his ace sophomore.
“If we played anyone outside of Carlmont, I probably would’ve thrown her,” Smith said. “But we could see them down the road and I don’t like them to get to see (Ibarra) and get a book on her.”
Smith also restricted his players from doing many of the things that make the team so good, such as bunting, slashing and stealing bases.
“Winning the tournament didn’t mean a whole lot,” Smith said. “We didn’t want to tip our hand.”
Carlmont scored a pair of runs off Brown, the ‘Balers first baseman who got the start in the circle, to take the lead it would never relinquish.
Clayton provided some fireworks with a third-inning home run that made it 2-1, but three runs by Carlmont in the bottom of the inning took the ‘Balers out of it.
San Benito opens its league schedule at 3:30pm today when the ‘Balers are at Salinas.
“I’m really excited about league with the added teams and with Gilroy playing well,” Smith said. “We’re going to have to play our best just to get through it.”
