By Jim Buckley
Pitchers’ duels like Thursday’s NBC World Series quarterfinal game come down to one moment. And this time around, the Foresters unfortunately did not make that moment happen. Their 2024 season ends exactly as their 2023 season did—with a loss to the Hutchinson Monarchs, this time by a score of 3-2. Foresters pitching was excellent, but the bats could not generate offense and a fine season ends too soon. A well-pitched game on both sides turned on a couple of key hits and costly errors.
UPDATED: At the team’s final meeting, 1B Jack Holman was voted as the Foresters 2024 Most Valuable Player. Frank Camarillo won the EP 19 Pitcher of the Year Award. Will Rogers was voted Best Teammate. Congratulations to all these great Foresters.
Santa Barbara opened the scoring in the second. Andrew Semo led off with a double, the first of his three hits in the game. After he moved to third, a dribbler by Jackson Freeman allowed Semo to score the game’s first run.
The Monarchs turned it around in the third. After a walk and single, the first baserunners allowed by Foresters starter Jackson Cloud, a single to right tied the score 1-1. A slow-hit grounder came next, just weakly hit enough to prevent the Foresters from turning an inning-ending double play, and a runner scored from third to give Hutchinson the lead for the first time. Baseball—a game of inches.
The Foresters stranded two runners in the fourth and another in the seventh as the clutch hit eluded them.
Meanwhile, Cloud continued to pitch very well. He faced a challenge in the seventh, giving up a pair of walks that led to two men on with two outs in the sixth. Manager Bill Pintard elected to leave Cloud in and it paid off. Cloud got a roller up the middle that T.J. Pompey grabbed, stepping on second to end the threat.
Monarchs starter Braydn McClure handcuffed the Foresters with lots of off-speed stuff and a relatively slow fastball. In 7 innings, he allowed just 4 hits and walked only one. Cloud was nearly as good, giving up two runs on only three hits while striking out seven.
In the eighth, the Monarchs got an insurance run that proved decisive. Hutchinson led off with a bunt single to greet reliever Jake Fields. The Monarchs’ top hitter then moved the lead runner over with a sac bunt (being retired on a great play by Semo). It was déjà vu as the Monarchs had a runner on third again. T.J. Pompey’s error on a grounder up the middle allowed the third run to score.
In the top of the ninth, down to their last three outs, the ’Sters tried to rally. An error by his opposite number at short allowed Pompey to reach leading off. Will Rogers then rifled a single into right. After the Monarchs finally got Semo out (on a pop foul), Jonah Sebring kept the hit parade going, singling to load the bases with one out. Freeman then struck out looking. With Jonny Rodriguez up, Pompey scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-2, but then Rodriguez struck out to end it.
The Foresters finish the 2024 season 26-12. Thanks to all the fans who enjoyed our games at home at Eddie Mathews Field and on YouTube all season. Thanks to our many sponsors and supporters, as well as Host Families and our tremendous summer staff. Thanks to the board of directors and our faithful alumni. Shout out to all our Hugs for Cubs Kids and know that you all remain in our thoughts.
Watch this website for information about our Turkey Shoot golf tournament coming up November 27. In the meantime, as always . . . ’STER IT UP!
