Senior catcher Kyle Zozaya was named Most Valuable Player after
he hit .403 and knocked in 22 runs for the Balers this season,
while, Jacob Eichhorn was named the Most Valuable Pitcher in the
TCAL after he compiled a perfect 4-0 record
HOLLISTER
Not a single team in the Tri-County Athletic League came within three games of San Benito’s first-place standing this season. And not a single team came close to garnering the five first team selections the Haybalers were recently rewarded as a result.
After it earned its fourth straight TCAL title with a 17-1 mark – Palma was in second place at 14-4 – San Benito was named eight times for all-league selections earlier this week, including the two most important player awards, Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Pitcher.
Senior catcher Kyle Zozaya was named Most Valuable Player after he hit .403 and knocked in 22 runs for the Balers this season. Zozaya hit a league-leading seven home runs in the TCAL and 10 overall, which was tops in the area.
Meanwhile, San Benito’s No. 1 pitcher, Jacob Eichhorn, was named the Most Valuable Pitcher in the TCAL this season after he compiled a perfect 4-0 record.
In 31 innings pitched, the senior hurler had a 1.12 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 42-to-11.
Both Zozaya and Eichhorn were named first team all-league as well, where they joined teammates Ricky Garcia, Steve Cabral and Ramiro Chapa.
The junior shortstop Garcia hit .409 in the TCAL with 12 RBI and six doubles; Cabral, a senior first baseman, hit .400 in 18 league games with 21 RBI and two home runs; while the senior outfielder Chapa hit TCAL opponents at a .418 clip with 14 RBI.
Other first team selections included Alisal’s Aaron Suarez-Lopez; Everett Alvarez’ Edgar Ramirez; Gilroy’s Taylor Chris and Jordan Holler; North Salinas’ Chris Santana and Vincent Martinez; Salinas’ Nick Grim, Eddie Wright and Michael Jensen; and Palma’s Phil Creecy, Jamie Vega, Tucker Minor and Cameron De La Santos.
Gilroy manager Clint Wheeler, who announced last month he’d be stepping down from his post after 10 seasons with the Mustangs, was named Coach of the Year.
San Benito had three second team selections as well, including senior third baseman Tyler Provost, junior designated hitter Isaak Ramos and sophomore third baseman/pitcher Darin Gillies.
Junior second baseman Trevor Fabing and junior outfielder Mark Hurley both received honorable mention, while both Tyler Provost and senior outfielder Ricky Archuleta were named to the TCAL’s sportsmanship team.
