San Benito no match for Acorns
The Acorns boys water polo team slaughtered San Benito High on Wednesday 20-6 in Hollister to end league play undefeated and enter the league championship tournament as the No. 1 seed.
The Acorns (18-9, 6-0 TCAL), ranked No. 10 in the Central Coast Section, had goals from seven different players in the one-sided contest that clinched at least a tie for the Tri-County Athletic League title.
Salinas can become co-champions if they win the league championship tournament.
Live Oak junior Ryan Guatschi led all scorers with six goals. Senior Mark Ahlin had three while seniors Devin Mercant and Mike Mitchell scored two goals each.
Mitchell also contributed on defense, covering San Benito’s star player, who was held scoreless until Mitchell was pulled from the game late in the forth quarter.
Both Acorn goalies – Jason Kim and Justin Short – also played well, Coach Mack Haines said.
“In the few opportunities Hollister got, (the goalies) seemed to block the shots,” he said, “which just added to their frustration.”
Although his teams have won many league titles in the past, Haines said this year was special.
“It felt really good to go 6-0 in league this year,” said Haines, whose teams have gone to CCS in 24 of the last 25 years. “I’m actually really cherishing it this year after just kind of taking it for granted.”
Haines said the game was very emotional for his relatively young team because of their second place finish last season.
2002 was the first year in more than a decade the Acorns ended the season without being the first place team in their league.
But Haines said despite the pressure from last seasons disapointing finish, his team played well.
“The kids felt the burden of (last season). So this is kind of starting all over again,” he said. “I was really pleased with how we played. Top to bottom, the kids played extremely focused. It was a big game and an emotional game for them.”
On Wednesday afternoon the girls water polo team also ended their season undefeated by beating the Balers 11-5 in Morgan Hill.
With the great water polo program Live Oak has, Haines said it’s not uncommon for both teams to finish in first place.
Before Live Oak moved to the Tri-County Athletic League, Haines said both teams won their leagues for four or five years in a row while competing in the Monterey Bay League.
The League Championship Tournament is scheduled for Nov. 4.
