Defending Champion Foresters Can’t Catch The Waves
by Nate Loop
For a complete game box score, click here.
The Foresters began Opening Day of the 2012 season, sponsored by Alta Orthopaedics, by celebrating their victory in the 2011 NBC Championship, and ended it with a loss to the San Diego Waves by a score of 4-0.
Manager Bill Pintard was joined on the field during pregame ceremonies by a few players from the 2011 edition of the Foresters, for the unveiling of the national championship banner.
“It’s awesome to be able to hold a national championship flag,” said Pintard.
Once the ceremonies were over, Pintard and his new crop of players settled in to begin the defense of their national title.
The Waves got on the board early in the top of the second inning. Right fielder Nathan Baird led off with a walk and immediately moved to second on an overthrown pickoff attempt by Foresters lefthander Casey Rodriguez. Center fielder Tim Rowley came up and drove in Baird on a hard-hit single to left field.
Rowley moved to third on a single by designated hitter Aaron Machbitz, and with runners on the corners Rodriguez induced a double play ball from left fielder Mike Leal. On the play, however, Rowley crossed home plate to give the Waves an early 2-0 lead.
The fifth inning brought more bad news for the ‘Sters. Waves second baseman Christian Johnson hit a soft line drive for a double, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Blake Balkan. Third baseman Cody Lenahan then doubled to score Johnson. Lenahan then came around on a double by first baseman Jim Maxwell to make the score 4-0 in favor of the Waves, and ended the scoring for this edition of Foresters baseball.
The Foresters bats were kept quiet through most of the afternoon by strong pitching from Kyle Montiel, a big lefty out of Palomar Community College. The Foresters finished the game with only four hits, two of them coming from shortstop Steven Reveles and one each from right fielder Joe Wallace and Kirby Bellow.
“You gotta tip your hat to their pitcher,” said Pintard. “He had us sideways with his breaking ball and he was spotting up his fastball real well.”
Montiel finished the game with 7 innings pitched, 3 hits allowed, two walks, and six strikeouts.
Casey Rodriguez went 5 innings, giving up 4 earned runs on 6 hits, but did manage six strikeouts himself.
The Foresters continue their three game series with the Waves tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 pm.
