Baseball team garners top spot again, will host Silver Creek
again
HOLLISTER
It’s a different year, but a somewhat similar scenario for the San Benito baseball team.
The Haybalers were named the No. 1 seed of the CIF-Central Coast Section Division I playoffs for the second straight season on Saturday, and will square off against No. 16 Silver Creek for the second straight season as well in Wednesday’s opening round.
Last year’s contest saw San Benito rout the Raiders 11-1 in a shortened five-inning affair, but manager Michael Luna is stressing to his team this week to ignore the parallels; last season’s comfortable victory, which saw the ‘Balers jump out to a six-run lead in the first inning, is last season’s comfortable victory.
“On any given day, the big equalizer is the guy on the mound,” said Luna, whose ‘Balers finished with a 24-5-1 overall record, including a 17-1 mark in the Tri-County Athletic League that provided San Benito with its fourth straight league title.
“I don’t know anything about them right now, but if they have a guy on the mound … all it takes is that one guy on the mound to have a special day.”
San Benito’s guy on the mound could be many, as Luna plans on pitching by committee for Wednesday’s showdown with Silver Creek, though could stick with one pitcher depending how the game unfolds.
The Raiders (21-9) were champions of the West Valley Division in the Blossom Valley Athletic League this season where it compiled an 18-3 record. However, only two of its opponents this year – Evergreen Valley and Oak Grove – qualified toward the postseason.
San Benito, meanwhile, compiled 66.5 power points en route to its top spot, edging No. 2 Santa Teresa (22-5) by five points. But while the No. 1 seed normally grants a team with a slightly easier semifinal bracket, that is certainly not the case for San Benito this year.
Although Luna feels this might be one of the more balanced Division I brackets he’s seen in a long time, with as many as 10 teams having a chance to play in the CCS finals, it’s difficult to look past the fact that three West Catholic Athletic League teams loom large on San Benito’s side, including No. 4 Serra (25-7) and No. 5 Valley Christian (24-8).
“I think our side of the bracket is the toughest,” Luna said.
And if a victory over Silver Creek on Wednesday is in its cards, San Benito would advance to Saturday’s quarterfinal round to take on the winner between No. 9 Oak Grove (23-3) and No. 8 Bellarmine (21-10), another WCAL team which defeated the ‘Balers 8-6 in the quarterfinals last year.
“If we see them on Saturday, it’ll be the third consecutive year we’ve seen them in the quarterfinals,” said Luna, whose ‘Balers beat the Bells 6-5 two years ago. “It’ll be interesting.”
Notes:
In the other two first-round games on San Benito’s side of the bracket, No. 13 Homestead (13-16) will take on No. 4 Serra (25-7), while No. 12 Carmel (18-7) will face off against No. 5 Valley Christian (24-8).
Other Division I games include No. 2 Santa Teresa (22-5) battling No. 15 Evergreen Valley (19-11), No. 7 Salinas (22-7-1) against No. 10 Mitty (21-11), No. 3 Wilcox (25-7) facing off with No. 14 Carlmont (18-12), and No. 6 St. Francis (23-9) against No. 11 Gilroy (17-12-1).
San Benito Softball
The San Benito Lady ‘Balers earned the No. 3 seed in the CIF-Central Coast Section Division I playoffs, and received a first-round bye as a result. The Lady ‘Balers will play in Saturday’s quarterfinal round against the winner between No. 6 Piedmont Hills (20-8) and No. 11 Mount Pleasant (18-10). Check out Friday’s edition of The Weekend Pinnacle for a full story.
