San Benito mercy-ruled Gilroy 11-1 in Hollister, Friday
Scott Campbell, Staff Writer
Hollister – After its opening at bat against San Benito, the Gilroy baseball team looked primed to once again give the Haybalers all they could handle. On the heels of a convincing 12-5 victory in the teams’ first meeting earlier this month, the Mustangs jumped on ‘Balers ace Breyon Canez for two hits and a 1-0 lead to open the game.
But San Benito answered right back with four runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning and Canez allowed just one hit the rest of the way as Gilroy left town on the wrong end of an 11-1 thumping.
“We knew they’d be ready,” said Mustangs head coach Clint Wheeler. “They had their No. 1 guy on the hill. They were primed and ready to go.”
The ‘Balers had been eagerly awaiting the re-match as their March 13 loss at Gilroy (5-5, 3-2 TCAL) was the lone blemish on their Tri-County Athletic League record.
“After the first game, they had the hammer on us,” said Canez. “They got us pretty good last time. We just had to come out blazing and put it to ’em in the beginning.”
Gilroy’s Drew Anderson drew a one-out walk in the first and advanced to third when San Benito third baseman Justin Andrade got eaten up by a tough hop on Kevin Grove’s smash down the line. Mustangs junior Ryan Evanger followed with a high bouncer that ‘Balers shortstop Sky Valenzuela couldn’t get to in time to record the third out, allowing Anderson to score. Gilroy starting pitcher Jacob Dexter drilled a Canez pitch, but the ball went straight to San Benito center fielder Jacob Boyd to end the Mustangs’ threat.
Despite falling in the quick 1-0 hole, the ‘Balers (9-2, 5-1 TCAL) came right back in their half of the first. Canez and second baseman Karson Klauer singled off Dexter to get the ‘Balers’ offense going, and then a succession of two-out walks and hit batsmen fueled the rest of the hosts’ early offense.
San Benito catcher Travis Ross walked on four pitches and then Brian Haggett was struck by a pitch to force in Canez, tying the game at 1-1.
The senior reliever retired Kolton Klauer, who was batting for the second time in the inning, to retire the side, but the damage had been done. With just two hits, San Benito had taken a 4-1 lead.
Anderson said the ‘Balers’ quick comeback made all the difference.
“Answering back is huge in any sport,” said Anderson. “Not only do you take away the momentum that [the other team] had, but you gain some of your own.”
Mustangs catcher Chris Hernandez said Gilroy’s hitters thought they could continue to have success with Canez, but the returning First Team All League player was just too much in the later innings.
“We felt pretty confident after we scored in the first inning that he wasn’t unhittable; that we could put the ball in play,” said Hernandez.
