Angel Robles of the San Benito Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Stars connects on a pitch during batting practice Thursday night at Veterans Memorial Park in Hollister. San Benito will open the Pacific Southwest 14-year-old Regional Tournament against Guam tonight in Palo Alto at 7:30 p.m.
It's easy to understand the importance of San Benito's situation by simply observing their surroundings.
The 14-year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars were taking in their final practice Thursday night at Veterans Memorial Park, and although the practice carried a laid-back feel with players dressed down to T-shirts and shorts, it was hard not to notice that they were the only ones still out there, the only team still practicing.
The San Benito Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Stars is the only team that's left.
After practically breezing through their two previous tournaments, compiling an 8-0 record by a 74-10 scoring margin, San Benito will take another step forward tonight in Palo Alto at the Pacific Southwest 14-year-old Regional Tournament.
The shock value of playing a team that resides nearly 6,000 miles away has worn off for San Benito, as they'll open up against Mangilao, Guam at 7:30 p.m. at the Baylands Athletic Center.
Representing Central California, San Benito is the last team left standing.
"I'm expecting a lot better baseball than we've seen in the last two tournaments," manager Joe Ocampo said. "Everyone is a state champ. They didn't get there if they don't play good ball."
San Benito has really only been tested once so far, when they trailed Central 3-1 with two outs in the seventh inning, only to eventually steal a 5-3 victory at the Central California State Championships in Arroyo Grande.
Ocampo described that as a wake-up call.
"We've started playing to our potential. We don't take any team for granted, and we're not going to start doing that now," Ocampo said. "I think our team is ready for a challenge. They like to be challenged by other teams."
Defense and pitching is what has brought San Benito to this point. As Anthony Ocampo pointed out, the whole team can pitch.
"I think we have a lot of pitchers," the 14-year-old said.
On Wednesday, San Benito was in Palo Alto for a meet-and-greet barbecue, and later played in a baseball game - using a tennis ball - against Guam.
"It's gonna be tough, but I think we're ready," said Adrian Medina. "The people from Guam, they're pretty fast."
"They take a lot of pitches," added Anthony Ocampo.
Joining teams from Reno (Nevada), Carbon (Utah), Hamilton (Arizona), Antioch (Northern California), Torrance (Southern California) and the host city of Palo Alto, San Benito will be just one of eight teams vying for the next tournament: the Babe Ruth World Series in Quincy, Mass.
"We'll see in a couple of days," Joe Ocampo said. "We're not an over-confident team. We're a confident team, and we'll play whoever comes in front of us."
San Benito's Title Run
San Benito has compiled an 8-0 record through the District 1 Central California State Qualifier Tournament and the Central California State Championships, outscoring their opponents by a 74-10 margin.
District 1 State Qualifier Tournament:
San Benito 5, O'Keefe 3
San Benito 12, Escalon 0
San Benito 13, Manteca 0
San Benito 10, O'Keefe 0
Central California State Championships:
San Benito 16, Wasco 3
San Benito 5, Central 3
San Benito 6, Arroyo Grande 1
San Benito 7, Arroyo Grande 0
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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Best in the bus business, again
