Throughout the entire year, San Benito softball manager Scott Smith has praised the team’s pitching and offense but questioned its defense. In the quarterfinals of the Central Coast Section playoffs Saturday, San Benito proved defense shouldn’t be an issue.
With clean defense, strong pitching from Megan Sabbatini and timely hitting, San Benito defeated St. Francis 7-0 and advanced to the CCS semifinals where it will face Leland.
“It came down to us pitching,” Smith said. “We are still a little bit tentative at the bat but Megan keeps us in the game. We live and die with her in the circle. And she stepped up and delivered again today.”
She was supported with strong defense throughout the game, as the Balers did not commit an error.
“The defense is getting better,” Smith said. “It’s kind of a reward to Megan. Megan keeps them off balance.”
Sabbatini was dominant for the Balers. The junior allowed only three hits and struck out nine batters in the win. She did walk three batters, but felt sharp in the circle, she said.
“I came out really strong and confident,” she said. “I really worked on pitching this week. I had two pitching lessons instead of going to practice.”
And when she made a mistake — one of only a few — the Balers defense prevented any damage.
“I think the girls were really positive today and confident coming out knowing we need to play well,” Sabbatini said. “No mistakes. No errors.”
On offense, San Benito used a four-run third inning to blow past the Lancers.
The inning started with a walk by Britt Sparrer. Center fielder Ellie Burley followed with a triple, which cleared the head of St. Francis centerfielder Jessie Hinojosa.
Two batters later — after a walk — Taylor Fabing smoked a single to drive in two more runs for the Balers.
Sabbatini added the final run of the inning with a single.
The four-run spark, though, came an inning after freshman Adriana Ibarra got San Benito on the board. The designated hitter, Ibarra, was powerful with the bat for the Balers Saturday in her first playoff game.
Ibarra opened the scoring in the second inning with an inside-the-park home run over St. Francis right fielder Caroyln McGuire.
Her success came a day after she — along with Smith — changed her swing, Ibarra said.
“I had really bad habits leaning forward,” she said. “That was my first time using it and it obviously worked. I had two strikes but I wasn’t nervous — it was butterflies I guess. It’s CCS.”
Ibarra added two more RBIs in the fifth inning with a one-out double over Hinojosa’s head. She finished the game 3-for-3 with a home run, double and three RBIs. She was a triple short of the cycle.
“It was nerve-wracking out there,” she said. “You try to just think about it like it’s another game but you know if you lose it’s the last game until next year.”
The victory was a statement win for the Balers after losing three of their last 13 games.
“We need to come out in the first couple of innings — that’s what gets us going,” Sabbatini said.
The victory sends the Balers into a final-four game with Leland. The Chargers enter the game with a 16-11 record after defeating No. 2 seeded Wilcox on Saturday.
The two teams have not played each other this year.
The game starts at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the San Jose PAL Stadium.
