Lucas Benenati belted two doubles and a homer on Saturday and Santa Barbara High scored 10 runs in the last three innings to beat St. Joseph 11-3 in the Central Coast Baseball Classic at Santa Maria.
Kees t’Sas had two hits and three RBIs for the Dons (2-0). Benenati knocked in two runs and Cam Gniadek and Spencer Fraker both went 2-5.
Collin Dewell homered in the third to put the Dons up 1-0. The Dons had 11 hits, including four doubles and two homers.
Danny Zandona held the Knights scoreless through the first six innings as the Dons built a 6-0 lead before erupting for five runs in the seventh. Benenati had a two-run homer in the seventh.
Zandona, a senior right-hander, allowed three runs (none earned) on eight hits with eight strikeouts and a walk.
SBHS travels to Arroyo Grande for another Central Coast Classic game on Tuesday.
Santa Barbara … 001 023 5 — 11 11 3
St. Joseph …….. 000 000 3 — 3 8 1
Zandona and Eaton; Cooper, Drury (5), Pino (7) and Cavazos. W–Zandona 1-0. L–Cooper.
2B–SB: Benenati 2, t’Sas, Gniadek. HR–SB: Dewell (1), 3rd inn., none on; Benenati (1), 7th inn., one on.
