By Jim Buckley (photos by Lexi Brintle)
Turnabout, they say, is fair play. After falling short with a late rally on Tuesday, the Foresters wasted no time taking a lead on Wednesday and they never let up, racking up a 10-3 win over the San Luis Blues. Starter Drew Rerick (above) was lights-out, throwing four scoreless innings, while 2B Addison Klepsch had a big day at the plate with three hits and four RBI.
After falling behind 6-0 after two innings on Tuesday, the Foresters turned the tables on the Blues on Wednesday, taking a 2-0 lead after two innings. Brenton Clark walked to lead off the second and Sawyer Farr doubled him home. With two outs, Klepsch singled to score Farr.
In the fourth, the ’Sters backed their man on the mound with three more runs. Cole Chamberlain led off with a double and was sent home by Caleb Hoover’s two-bagger. Klepsch got his second RBI of the game with a single, and it was 5-0 after four.
Meanwhile, Rerick was pitching a gem. He came in with a 1.50 ERA and lowered that quite a bit after going four scoreless innings, striking out six and allowing only a single hit.
The fun and the runs continued in the fifth. After reaching on walks, Chamberlain and Hoover were on base when that man again–Klepsch, pictured—doubled them both in.
The Blues finally got on the board only when Rerick was taken out in the fifth after giving up a leadoff hit to break up his string of outs. San Luis ended up with a pair of runs in the inning.
The ’Sters moved the difference to seven again with a pair in the top of the sixth. After a single and a hit batter, Chamberlain whacked his second RBI double of the game, driving in both runners, moving the score to 9-2. After San Luis got one back in the seventh, Farr scored on a wild pitch in the ninth to fill out the scoring.
Rerick was followed by Jaden Barfield, Easton Tumis, Steele Eaves, and Zack James. Together, ’Sters pitcher struck out 14 Blues. That continues an incredible string of outings by Foresters pitching. They have put together six games in a row with at least a dozen strikeouts in each outing.
The Foresters have a much-needed day off Thursday before a string of 10 games in 10 days, starting on Friday. That game will be back at Eddie Mathews Field at 4:30, and of course online at the Foresters YouTube channel (link on home page).
