In the Central Coast Section Division I baseball playoffs seeds are merely just numbers. Against No. 14 seeded Sequoia, the Balers learned and survived that lesson Wednesday.
Despite collecting only four hits – all coming in the final three innings – the No. 3 seeded Balers survived their opening round game with a walk-off 1-0 win over the Cherokees in Hollister.
In the final inning – with only one base runner through six innings – the Balers put together their only threat of the game. After a strikeout by Jacob Tonasica, second baseman Marcus Sabatte and Ryan Jacob followed with back-to-back singles.
The hits chased Sequoia starter Jake Mauldin, who dominated with off-speed pitches all afternoon.
Once he was gone, though, San Benito knew they had a chance to win. After another out, it was Craig Slibsager who would play hero for the Balers. Looking for a fastball, the San Benito third baseman jumped on the first pitch from Carl Wassermann and hit a line drive over the head of center fielder Roman Rosado to knock in Dylan Ito, the game’s only and winning run.
“I was looking for a fastball, and I got it,” Slibsager said. “I just let my hands fly.”
He continued: “I was the fifth batter. I knew if I got up we would win.”
He was right.
“Three words: Clutch cowboy Craig,” Daniel Gonzalez said after the game.
The game didn’t come easy at all for the Balers, now 22-6.
San Benito didn’t get two runners on at one time until the game’s final inning and struck out eight times – including six of the game’s first eight batters. The Balers didn’t get their first hit until one out in the fourth inning. It came on a bunt single by Jacob, who finished 2-for-3.
The Balers, though, didn’t need a lot of hits thanks to the pitching of starter Anthony Ocampo. The senior allowed a base runner in every inning, but never allowed two hits in one inning to limit the Cherokee damage. In his 6 2-3 innings, Ocampo allowed only five hits and struck out eight.
With the win, San Benito will face Archbishop Mitty on Saturday in the CCS second round. It will be the Balers second game against the Monarchs this year. In April, Mitty beat San Benito 2-1 in the third game of the Valley Christian Crown Classic.
The game is set for 2 p.m. at Hartnell College.
