With their second straight—and similarly shocking—7-0 defeat early Friday morning, the Santa Barbara Foresters saw their 2015 season end at the NBC World Series in Wichita. After winning their first two games at the tournament handily and scoring 19 total runs, Foresters bats suddenly fell silent, as they were shut out for the second game in a row. The Seattle Studs veteran pitcher David Benson, a familiar foe for the Foresters, threw a complete game, holding the ‘Sters to only four hits. That extended the Santa Barbara scoreless streak to a surprising 18 innings.
In this Super Six game, Foresters starter Garret King couldn’t get out of the second inning, and Seattle led 4-0 after two. Foresters relievers allowed only three more runs the rest of the way, but the offense could not get more than one runner even to third base all night, er, morning long.
The Foresters finish the season with a 37-9 record, one of their finest of all time. They had the best record in the California Collegiate League, going 25-7 in league play.
The Foresters can point with pride to a number of outstanding accomplishments this season. Their nine losses were the fewest ever in a single Foresters season . . . ever. As a team, their .804 winning percentage was the highest since 2008’s .821. Among the notable individual performances this year:
—Gary Cornish had 9 wins, tied for second most all-time
–Granger Studdard had 40 RBI, his second straight season with 40 or more RBI
—Jeremy Montalbano’s 9 home runs are tied for fourth-most in a single season
The Foresters entire organization—players, coaches, volunteers, sponsors, and more—thank their fans for their generous and loyal support. Though this season didn’t end how we all wanted it to, we want to show and share our gratitude for the cheers you gave us this summer at Caesar Uyesaka, sounds of support that followed us all the way to Wichita and beyond.
Watch this space for more information about offseason events, including the Turkey Day Shootout golf tournament on November 25 and our annual Hot Stove/Hall of Fame Banquet in the new year. Thanks. —Jim Buckley
