SOFTBALL: San Benito too Tough for Carlmont

The Score: San Benito 5, Carlmont 0.

The Star: Carlmont High center fielder Janelle Shiozaki made three excellent plays including a diving catch on a ball in hit in front of her that ended a bases-loaded two-outs situation in the fifth and saved at least two runs. 

The Turning Point: San Benito broke the game open a 2-0 game in the fifth when the Haybalers tacked on two runs on three hits and a walk.

The Quote: “I don’t like to put a lot of pressure on them, but I think they have the ability to be one of the best that we’ve had.” -- longtime Carlmont coach Jim Liggett, who has already coached Carlmont to seven CCS titles, on his team’s outlook for the next few years.

What’s Next? 2012. With virtually their entire team returning, the Scots are early favorites to win the Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division and poised for another deep postseason run.

The Bottom Line: Underclassman-heavy Carlmont overachieved with one of the youngest teams you’ll ever see in a CCS semifinal in any sport. The Scots didn’t have enough this year to topple a San Benito team in the midst of a dynasty, but the Scots are poised to start one of their own.

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Carlmont High's youth movement finally ran into a challenge it couldn’t overcome.

Fielding a team made up mostly of players too young to get their learner’s permits that’s held its own against elite competition all season, the Scots were finally overmatched by perennially dominant San Benito of Hollister team 5-0 in a Central Coast Section Division I softball semifinal Tuesday at PAL Stadium in San Jose.

San Benito (28-1), which is in the midst of a Northern California dynasty, has won five consecutive CCS titles and is 5-0 in the playoffs against Carlmont.

Carlmont (22-7) was seeking its first CCS title appearance since losing to San Benito in 2007. The Scots were first ousted by their CCS nemesis in 2003, when most of the Scots were still in kindergarten.

“It means we have to work a little harder to get to that point, doesn’t it?” Carlmont coach Jim Liggett said.

Well then let the work begin.

The Scots graduate just two starters and return virtually their entire team intact next year.

“I don’t like to put a lot of pressure on them, but I think they have the ability to be one of the best that we’ve had,” said Liggett, whose coached the Scots to seven CCS titles in 36 years.

“I don’t know if that’s next year or the year after, but there’s a lot of potential there.”

The Scots can hardly wait.

“Now we know what it’s like to be in CCS and we’re going to be hungry for more next year,” Carlmont junior center fielder Janelle Shiozaki said.

Carlmont was facing San Benito for a second time this season, with the Haybalers winning a non-league tournament game in March, 3-0. But on Tuesday, the Scots were facing pitcher Megan Sabbatini, whom they didn’t see in the previous meeting.

Nothing personal, but the Scots probably hope they don’t see her again anytime soon.

Sabbatini’s velocity was too much and her riseball apparently too tough to lay off. She struck out 11 and allowed no walks in seven innings of two-hit ball.

Sabbatini no-hit the Scots through 3 2/3 innings until Gabriella Pons beat out an infield hit.

Missy Pekerek’s pinch-hit infield single with one out in the fifth was the only other Carlmont hit.

Liggett said Sabbatini was the best pitcher his team had faced this season.

“We just didn’t hit tonight,” he said. “Hard to play with them if you’re not hitting.”

The Scots were fielding though, and Shiozaki’s defense in particular was outstanding.

Shiozaki made a diving catch on a ball hit in front of her that ended a bases-loaded two-outs situation in the fifth and saved at least two runs. She also made two nice running catches in the gap in left-center in the third and the fourth.

“Janelle had one of the best games I’ve seen defensively,” Liggett said. “She’s had a couple of games where she’s made some nice catches, but she was special today.”

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San Benito 5, Carlmont 0

C -- 000 000 0 – 0 2 0

SB -- 101 021 x -- 5 7 0

WP: Sabbatini. LP: Giuliacci (8-3).

HR: Puentes (SB). 2B: Newman, Hoff (SB). 2 hits:  Puentes, Hoff, Adame (SB). 2 RBI: Hoff (SB).

Records: Carlmont 22-7. San Benito 28-1.