The five unanswered runs in their last two at bats for the OC Riptide were too much for the Foresters to handle in a 6-2 loss. The late comeback was the product of smart hitting and base running from the Riptide and unfortunate mistakes by Sters pitching.
Starting out strong, Santa Barbara got on the board first with a two out RBI double for Tanner O’Tremba, bringing home Griffin Everitt following his triple into left field.
Payton Tolle, with a good-looking fast ball, only escaped scoreless through the first inning, as the bottom of the second saw the Riptide put 1 up. A Nathan Smith double and a one out RBI single off the bat of Chase Valentine tied the game 1-1. Even with heavy foot traffic on the bases from the Riptide, Payton Tolle got in the zone, with 9 Ks in the first 6 innings. Tolle did a great job bearing down with runners on base in scoring position.
With his third hit on the night, a line drive RBI single into center field, Miguel Santos put the Sters up 2-1 in the bottom of the 6th, bringing home Gianni Horvat who was posted on third.
This lead was short lived, as a Zachary Thomas infield single brought a runner home after multiple walks, the score tied at 2. Disaster struck as a routine high fly ball was dropped, the outcome of major miscommunication by Sters outfielders, letting two more runs come home to make it 4-2. The bottom of the 8th was no different as a strong bunt followed by an RBI double saw two more runners cross home for the Riptide, the final score 6-2.
Fingers crossed that the Foresters rally tomorrow against Arroyo Seco during this packed week of baseball. Remember to tune in at 6:05 pm on AM 1290 and KZSB FM 96.9.
