By Jim Buckley (photos by Kylie Koeper): The Foresters found themselves in a nailbiter against the OC Riptide Wednesday night, then struck late to take their first lead of the game in the eighth. Hot-hitting third baseman Dylan Campbell cracked a go-ahead double to score Jack Reidel with the key run. A couple of tense innings later, Santa Barbara had its 12th straight win, 3-2.
The comeback was an appropriate reward for sterling Foresters pitching, which officially had a 0.00 ERA for the game, allowing only four hits while striking out 17 and walking none. Starter Peyton Cole (pictured) struck out seven in five innings, allowing only two unearned runs. Cooper Randall stepped in with two shutout frames. Steven Zobac struck out the side in the eighth. Nick “The Doctor” Proctor continued his outstanding season as the Santa Barbara closer, matching Zobac with three Ks and notching his third save.
The night started out rather bumpy, as two Foresters errors combined with a pair of Riptide hits to let the home team take 2-0 lead in the first.
Campbell’s bat and feet got one back in the seventh. He singled and stole two bases before Tanner O’Tremba sent him home, in the process busting a move down the line to beat out an infield single. In the eighth, Jack Reidel drove in the tying run with a double, scoring Jashia Morrissey, who had singled. Then Campbell followed with his big hit.
The Foresters return to Pershing for the final homestand of the summer Thursday vs. the Conejo Oaks on Lazy Acres Night. First pitch is a 6 pm.
