By Matthew Landis
With twenty hits and fourteen runs, the Foresters smash the Southern California Catch, taking the second game of the series. The blowout victory gave the ‘Sters their eleventh win of the season. Behind a solid pitching outing from Nick Diamond from Arizona State, the ‘Sters powered past the Catch, their bats ablaze.
After a quiet first inning, the Catch were on the board first in the second. Designated hitter Perry Rigby led the charge with a single to lead off the inning. Advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt, Rigby was in scoring position. Right fielder Scott Gillespie smacked a double down the right field line, giving the Catch a 1-0 lead. Gillespie scored later that inning off of an RBI single by third basemen Chad Powers.
The Foresters answered back in the bottom of the second scoring a run of their run. Third basemen Bret Boswell started off the inning with a double down the right field line. First basemen Vance Vizcaino recorded his first hit of the season, scoring Boswell from second off of a single. The ‘Sters still trailed however 2-1. Bret Boswell gained the honor of the EP 19 Beverage Player of the Game, going 3-5 with four RBI’s. Coach Bill Pintard on Boswell’s performance, “He’s a real patient hitter, and he’s on a tear. He’ll be moving up in the lineup here soon.”
In the fifth inning, the Catch came alive again, lengthening their lead against the Foresters. Ryan Land led off the inning with a single and Alex Jefferson came aboard on a fielder’s choice. Cooper Esmay, who had two home runs yesterday struck again with an RBI double. Jefferson scampered home to score the Catch’s third run of the ballgame, 3-1.
In this back and forth ballgame, the Foresters exploded for eight runs in the fifth inning, taking the 9-3 lead. The ‘Sters pounded the Catch, their bats on fire. The Catch also helped the Foresters during their offensive outburst, committing two errors. Cole Atwood and Granger Studdard started off the inning, both getting on base with singles. A.J Kennedy doubled in the third run of the inning with a soaring double. Reggie Southall then scored Kennedy with an RBI single of his own. Jake Vickerson, Atwood and Grant Davis continued the offensive campaign with singles, scoring eight runs and making the lead 9-3.
Foresters’ cleanup hitter, Jeremy Montalbano lead off the sixth inning with a soaring home run over the center field fence. Montalbano took the 1-0 deliver from the Catch pitcher and clubbed it out of the park for a solo home run. The ‘Sters kept the rally alive, scoring two more runs. Boswell lined a single to left and Vizcaino was hit by a pitch, giving the Foresters runners on first and second. Kennedy then walked to the plate and lined in Boswell, for an RBI single. Vickerson also lined a single, scoring Vizcaino and putting the ‘Sters ahead 12-3.
The Foresters did not let up on the Catch, scoring two more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Montalbano continued his hot game, hitting a single. Boswell followed suit with a deep hit of his own to center field. Boswell tripled and scored Montalbano, and then was awarded home on a throwing error on the shortstop.
