San Benito's Kevin Burley celebrates as he rounds first after hitting a first-inning grand slam to help lead the 'Balers past Silver Creek 11-1 Wednesday afternoon.
While seemingly not distracted by the expectations a No. 1 seed brings, the San Benito Haybalers connected for six hits - three of which came via the long ball - and took advantage of 11 free bases to easily dispatch visiting No. 16 Silver Creek 11-1 Wednesday in the first round of the Central Coast Section Division I baseball playoffs.
The shortened five-inning contest was manager Michael Luna's 100th victory at San Benito, a rather impressive statistic considering the 'Baler skipper has called Hollister his baseball home for just four seasons. Luna's record at San Benito is now 100-28, which equals a winning percentage of .781.
"I didn't really know," said Luna on hitting the century mark after the game. "I knew it was getting close."
While the team had a special ceremony after the game for the San Benito manager, Luna was already focusing on getting win No. 101, as he quickly noted that No. 9 Bellarmine was ahead in the sixth inning on No. 8 Monta Vista (21-9).
The Bells (19-15) eventually won the game 5-2 and will face the top-seeded 'Balers (25-5) in the second round on Saturday - a rematch of last season's classic CCS quarterfinal game that saw San Benito win 6-5 on a game-winning double from Brian Haggett.
Last-inning heroics were certainly not needed on Wednesday, though, as the 'Balers were powered by three home runs, including a grand slam in the first inning from Kevin Burley that highlighted a six-run opening frame.
"We did our job," said Burley when asked if this was a statement game. "I think we proved it by 10-run ruling them. That's what we're supposed to do, right?"
It was the first grand slam of Burley's career and his first home run of the season. The bases-loaded blast, which easily cleared the left-field wall, came after four walks and a two-run single up the middle from Ronnie Fhurong. Silver Creek starting pitcher Taylor Crawford (2/3 IP, 3 hits, 6 runs, 2 Ks, 5 BB) was taken out of the game before the end of the first inning.
"That grand slam in the first inning was a big blow," Luna said. "[Crawford] was one pitch away from getting out of that inning. And that's what Kevin Burley is capable of doing."
San Benito starter Miles Sanchez seemed to only get better as the game progressed, as he allowed just three hits over five innings of work. He also struck out seven Raiders in the shortened stint, including four of the last six batters he faced.
More importantly, Sanchez didn't allow any free bases.
After Silver Creek plated their lone run in the top half of the second on a fielding error, Steve Cabral single-handedly got the run back when he connected on a solo homer to left-center field.
After the game, Cabral noted the team's patience at the plate, which was certainly needed after Silver Creek brought in knuckle-ball relievers Sheldon Daquioag and Ricky Torres for the remainder of the contest.
"We just stay really disciplined," said Cabral of the 'Balers, which forced 10 walks Wednesday. "I don't think it caught us off-guard at all ... We got a pitch we could handle and we tried to take it."
In the third, the 'Balers once again padded their lead when Brian Haggett got a pitch he could handle and drove it opposite field, clearing the left-center field wall for a three-run blast.
Haggett said the key to the victory was to jump on Silver Creek quickly.
"We wanted to get the bats going and get the momentum," Haggett said. "Miles did a good job with quick innings - throwing strikes and getting ahead of hitters.
"We proved that we earned the No. 1 seed."
Zach Canez, who went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, made it an 11-1 ball game in the fourth when he hit a Texas leaguer to left field that plated Dane Lamanna.
San Benito will return to PAL Stadium in San Jose for a quarterfinal matchup with Bellarmine, which lost to the 'Balers 11-7 at the Crown Classic tournament earlier this season. Canez is slated to start on the mound for San Benito. First pitch is 10 a.m.
"As I told the team before, we're No. 1 for a reason," Luna said. "From Day One, our goal was to play in the final game. Obviously, it's gonna get harder ..."
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Andrew Matheson Andrew Matheson is a sports writer for South Valley Newspapers. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 334 or at amatheson@svnewspapers.com.
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