A season-record crowd packed Pershing Park on the Fourth of July, and they did their best to encourage the Foresters, but the Conejo Oaks pitchers dampened the fireworks. Santa Barbara managed only four hits while falling 3-1. Four on the Fourth was a theme, as both teams managed only four hits. However, the Oaks took advantage of their hits, with a little help from the Foresters.
The first Oaks run scored on a single, but the runner was in scoring position thanks to a wild pitch. The second Oaks run, in the sixth, reached base on a hit-by-pitch and later scored on another wild pitch. The third Oaks run (which reached base on another HBP) came across on a squeeze play. Small ball ruled the day, and the Oaks did it better than the Sters.
Santa Barbara had tied the score at 1-1 in the third when Ryan Cash scored on a Ryan Reynolds single. But that was it on a quiet day for the Foresters offense. Pinch-hitter Chandler Bengston brought fans to their feet in the ninth with a smashing, sinking line drive with two on base, but the Oaks rightfielder timed his run just right to rob Bengston of a heroic moment.
The Foresters seek revenge on Wednesday when they travel to Thousand Oaks to take on Conejo again. Join the game in progress on AM 1290 at 5 pm.