Foresters 8–Halos 2: Bring on the Break!
by Nate Loop
Box Score
With their tournament fates decided before the first pitch of the ballgame, the Foresters still came out and put on a show for their faithful fans, sending them home with the lasting images of a strong 8-2 victory over the Southern California Halos.
No matter the result, the Foresters could not make the championship game of the Santa Barbara Tournament. That honor will go to the Conejo Oaks, who held the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Foresters as a result of their 8-0 victory on July 4th.
Nevertheless, the Foresters still put on the display that has been typical of many of their victories. Brandon Pierce got the start on the mound, and had a very efficient four innings of work, holding the Halos hitless through the first three innings.
At the plate, the Foresters looked like they might have another frustrating afternoon. They managed to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the second inning, but they only cashed in one run, courtesy of an Arby Fields single that just hopped over the infield dirt.
In the fourth inning, the Halos managed to tie up the game as Foresters second baseman Peter Cuomo let a ball sneak under his glove, and the Buckner-esque error allowed one runner to cross home plate.
Head Coach Bill Pintard wanted to spread out the work on the mound, and brought in Nick Palewicz after the fourth inning.
Kyle Eaton took over for Kwan in the fifth inning and struggled mightily. The Foresters put up six runs in the inning, the highlight a three RBI, bases clearing triple by Robert Vickers, who is working his way back from a nasty ankle sprain suffered earlier in the season.
The Foresters and Halos would each add another run in the eight inning, but the game was a foregone conclusion by then thanks to the offensive outburst by the ‘Sters in the fifth inning.
The Santa Barbara Tournament will conclude with the Conejo Oaks playing the winner of the San Luis Obispo bracket tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.
