A stellar relief outing from Glenn Otto and a clutch two run home run in the top of the 9th from Montalbano lifted the Foresters past the Catch in a 6-5 victory.
Santa Barbara jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top half of the first with an RBI single from Montalbano scoring Ryan Chandler. The Catch responded in the bottom half with two consecutive walks followed by a three run home run from Rojas giving the Catch a 3-1 lead. Later in the inning, Glenn Otto was able to get out of a bases loaded jam and keep the Foresters within two, relieving Patty O’Brian.
Holland began the fifth with a leadoff single and was sacrificed to second by Mike Smith. L Grant Davis then drove in Holland with a single to cut the lead in half at 3-2. Two pitches later, Davis stole second and was followed by a walk from Ryan Chandler putting runners at first and second with one out. A fly out to center from Henderson allowed Davis to advance to third setting up runners at the corners with two outs. Chandler’s second stolen base of the game setup two runners in scoring position for the red hot Montalbano, and he capitalized with a two run single as Santa Barbara took a 4-3 lead.
The Catch came back to take the lead in the bottom half of the eighth after Dalton Brown allowed a two run double to Cameron Miller.
With two out and nobody on in the top of the ninth, Henderson was hit by a pitch, which brought the go ahead run to the plate. Henderson appeared to be picked off but an errant throw from the first baseman Jeremy Barth allowed Henderson to reach third safely. Montalbano made the Catch pay sending a fastball over the left field wall giving the Foresters a 6-5 lead. Tyler Cohen came in relief for Dalton Brown, closing the door on the Catch, and picking up the save.
The Foresters improve their overall record to 9-2 and will look to take the series tomorrow in a rubber match against the So Cal Catch.
Game time is scheduled for 1 P.M. at Biola University.
By:Jonathan Herkins
