The Foresters’ staff allowed three hits and walked none in a dominant performance, while Santa Barbara’s batters raked fifteen hits, to crush the visiting Valley Bears 13-1 on Thursday evening.
From the start, it was all ‘Sters in this one, with Santa Barbara leading 6-1 at the end of the first inning. For the rest of the game, they simply outplayed the Bears in every facet of the game.
The “pitch by committee” strategy was on-point for the Foresters, with a party of five ‘Sters pitching two innings or less, and only starter Matt Hartman giving up an earned run. The staff fanned nine batters, and had at least one strikeout in every inning but two.
At the plate, the Foresters manufactured one of their famous deluges of hits, swatting thirteen singles and two doubles. It was a team effort, with nine ‘Sters chipping in at least one hit. Kyle Isbel, Colton Waltner, Trevor Abrams, and Hunter Stovall all had great days at the plate, going a combined 9 for 15, with five walks.
Having taken game one, the Foresters look to keep the Bears in hibernation in game two on Friday night at 5:05 pm at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.—Matthew Selman
