If the the San Benito baseball team is to win its third league
title, it will have to do it without a lot of veteran experience in
the lineup.
If the the San Benito baseball team is to win its third league title, it will have to do it without a lot of veteran experience in the lineup.
The only returning starter from last year is catcher Anthony Synegal, who led the team with four home runs last year. But players like Mike Lango, Nick Gonzales, Brett Fulgoni, Justin Patton and John Corona, who have had limited varsity experience, will also get their chances this year, said first-year coach Derek Barnes.
“We got a bunch of good solid athletes,” Barnes said. “It is just getting them used to playing varsity ball. After a few weeks, we should start jelling better.”
This year’s Tri-County Athletic League is wide open for the taking. There aren’t any teams that appear to be dominant at the start of the season.
“Most teams were senior-laden with pitching last year,” Barnes said. “Gilroy and Palma will be much improved, and Salinas and Live Oak are always strong. If we play like I and the the other coaches believe we are capable of playing, we should have a good chance of winning another title.”
Although Barnes has a slightly more aggressive style of play than his predecessorNeal Andrade did, he said he plans to keep doing some of the same things that have given the Balers success.
“The players already know us pretty well,” Barnes said. “They have all responded well so far. The system is pretty much the same. We are just trying to tweak some things for this team. We haven’t been able to swing the bats like we would like, so we have to put more emphasis on hitting.”
The team has five athletes who played football – Breyon Canez, Karson Klauer, Brett Brannan, Anthony Vasquez and Lango.
Players like Jason Sims are hoping to make the team after basketball season ends. Sims, who played last year, will mostly be used as a pitcher and could also play first base, Barnes said.
The Balers’ strength, at least early in the year, will be the pitching. The staff is composed of lefties Brian Rossi, a junior, and Canez, a sophomore.
Seniors Fulgoni and Patton and Sims, a junior, all are showing good potential on the mound, Barnes said. Canez was the No. 1 pitcher on the JV team last year.
Barnes said he has the luxury of having versatile players who can start depending on the situation.
“After the preseason, we should hopefully have everything solidified,” Barnes said. “We have so many guys who are interchangeable. We don’t feel we will lose anything by putting guys at different positions.”
At first base, the Balers have Patton, Brennan and Canez vying for the position. All three players have the height advantage.
In the middle of the infield, Scott Mead, Geno Fata and Klauer are the go-to guys. Fata started at shortstop in the opener, and Mead played second base. At third base are Lango and Velasquez.
Synegal will get most of the work behind the plate this year, but Seth Hudson, last year’s JV catcher, will also see some time there, Barnes said.
In left field are Rossi and Corona. And in right are Fulgoni and Travis Zanella. The center field is anchored by Nick Gonzales and Gabe Gaitan.
“Nick didn’t play much last year, but he is really fast and works hard,” Barnes said. “We kind of converted him to an outfielder last year. He is quick to the ball and has a good arm. He can make things happen on the bases, so he should see a lot of playing time.”
The Balers won’t have the eight senior stars from last year’s league championship team that included co-MVP Eric Diaz Jr.
But San Benito still has plenty of weapons and should be have a chance for a league title.
