BOX SCORE
Photo of Michael Neustifter by Vic Neumann
By Patrick Hunter
With the Fourth of July right around the corner, Forester fans got to start their festivities early after watching their team put together a stellar all-around performance, a shut out of the Ventura County Buccaneers 10-0 on a warm Tuesday evening at Pershing Park.
Santa Barbara struck early in the ball game, as Chase Illig got back on track, drilling a line drive single to score leadoff man Logan Allen for an early lead.
Utah Jones kept the ball rolling in the bottom of the third, bringing in Ryan Cash to make it 2-0. Shortly after, Michael Neustifter scored Jones with a fielder’s choice.
Foresters pitching kept the Buccaneers in check for the whole game, with five pitchers combining to allow just three hits and zero runs for their sixth shutout in 24 games. Nico O’Donnell made his first start for the ’Sters, and impressed with three solid innings in his debut. Relief pitcher Matt Hartman got the win, striking out two in two innings.
The Foresters offense put the game well out of reach in the later innings. Conor Davis brought in Jones with a sac fly in the seventh to make it 4-0, but the real action happened in the following inning. Catcher Turner Gauntt got in on the fun with an RBI single, and Tyler Hardman scored on a wild pitch shortly after. Jones built on his solid day later in the inning, bringing in two more runs on a hard hit double.
To cap off the scoring day for the ’Sters, Chase Illig smacked a home run, making it an even 10-0 on the day.
Santa Barbara put a complete performance together, as the pitching, offense, and defense fired on all cylinders throughout the night.
Come celebrate the Fourth of July at Pershing Park before enjoying the fireworks at the harbor! The ’Sters take on the San Francisco Seals in what should be an exciting matchup at 4:30!
’Ster it Up!
