By Blythe Hastings, photo by Kylie Koeper
The Foresters make a statement on Sunday with a blowout 13-3 win over the Conejo Oaks. The ’Sters trailed 3-2 in the sixth, but then they put their foot on the gas, scoring 11 runs and not allowing a single run past the 6th inning. The Foresters offense was red hot with strong hitting from throughout the lineup, especially Miguel Santos’ four hits and three RBI including a two-run homer (pictured fielding).
The ’Sters struck first in the bottom of the third as Santos unloaded on a fast ball that sailed well over the left field wall to bring home Rylan Charles, who stole two bases after being walked.
It was smooth sailing for the Sters until the 6th, where multiple walks from Jake Faherty let the Oaks to load the bases and bring multiple runners home, going up 3-2. They didn’t lead for long. In the bottom of the inning, Tanner O’Tremba got on base after tipping a ball of his bat on a pitch over his head; an ensuing throwing error to first allowed him to reach second. Evan Gray, pitcher for the Oaks, started throwing wildly, hitting Hunter Ensley. Gray hit the backboard three times, sailing pitches over and past his catcher, and allowing O’Tremba to jog home, tying it 3-3. Santa Barbara took over the lead as a high fly ball into left field from Jack Holman brought Ensley home.
The ’Sters pulled away in the later innings. In the seventh, Charles and Santos singled and then Charles scored on an single by team RBI leader Gavin Kash. Griffin Everitt walked and O’Tremba was hit, loading the bases for a bases-loaded walk to Holman to make it 6-3. Will Pendergrass then blasted a ball into center field to bring home Everitt and Josh Stinson, who was pinch-running for O’Tremba, widening the lead to 8-3. A two-run, two-out double from Austin Stracener brought home Pendergrass and Holman to make it 10-3.
The ’Sters padded their lead in the eighth. Santos led the way again after a line drive bounced past the right fielder, letting the Sters shortstop reach third. Kash drove in Santos, and a later single by Hunter Ensley brought home the final two runs of the day for Santa Barbara.
David Shaw (pictured at Rice) started and got eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings for the Foresters. Nick Griffin picked up the win in relief, shutting down the Oaks after Feherty got into a jam in the sixth. Alec Grossman threw two perfect innings to wrap things up.
The traditional Foresters on the Fourth game begins at Pershing Monday at 4:30 for the game before the fireworks or tune in to AM 1290 KZSB to hear the action.
