Foresters 7–Barons 2
By Jim Buckley
Another returning Foresters ace, another Santa Barbara victory: Thursday night in Compton, Ian McCarthy threw five scoreless innings to lead the ’Sters to a 7–2 win, their second straight over the MLB Academy Barons. McCarthy’s gem followed Tom Lemke’s strong start on Wednesday; both were part of the Foresters 2011 National Championship squad. The win moves the ’Sters to 2–1 in California Collegiate League action and 3–3 overall.
Foresters bats gave McCarthy plenty of support with a five-run second inning in which 11 Foresters came the plate. Second baseman Joey Gonzales had a big two-run double to key the inning. They added single runs in the fifth and seventh.
Foresters outfielder Robert Vickers, the home run hero from Wednesday, had an interesting night, reaching base five times without a hit—he was walked four times and hit by a pitch. Nick Melino also was on base four times with a pair of singles and two walks.
Ian McCarthy won his second game of 2012.
In his five scoreless innings on the way to his second win of the year, McCarthy struck out seven and gave up only three hits. He was backed up in relief by Willie Kuhl, Albert Minnis, and Hunter Lemke.
The Foresters head back from the road for a six-game homestand beginning Friday night at 5 p.m. when they play host to the Bakersfield Braves. Call your friends and make a night of it at UCSB. The Foresters play the San Diego Force on Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Injury report: Center fielder Rich Sanguinetti, who played in each of the Foresters’ first five games, will be out for a while with a severely sprained ankle. He hurt it Wednesday night crashing into the wall making a catch in the Foresters 7–4 win. Pepperdine’s Brian Langlois stepped in for Sanguinetti on Thursday.
