By Cole Walker
In a much-anticipated matchup that made fans ride a 9-inning rollercoaster of emotions, the Foresters were outlasted by their CCL North rivals 8-7 late Friday evening in San Luis Obispo.
The Foresters offense landed the first blow of the night courtesy of red-hot hitter TJ Pompey. The lone-star state shortstop came through in the clutch with a scorching 2-run RBI double which scored Dee Kennedy from third, and an eager Jonah Sebring from second, who opened the inning with a double of his own.
The Blues came to play however and responded with their own series of runs in the bottom of the fourth, adding 3 to the scoreboard through key situational hitting.
This matchup seesawed back and forth until the top half of the fifth when the Foresters mighty first baseman, Johnny Rodriguez, laid into one, and sent a moonshot over the right field fence, scoring Will Rogers from first, and snagging 2 RBIs, and the temporary lead, in the process.
San Luis Obispo followed up the Rodriguez home run with 2 runs of their own, and once again the two teams found themselves tied headed into the sixth.
After two scoreless innings, the 2023 Foresters Summer MVP Daniel Patterson, who ended the night 3 ⁄ 4, strutted up to the plate and made sure to let the abundant fans of Sinsheimer Stadium know that he does indeed, stand on business. On the first pitch of the at-bat, a ready Patterson smacked a no-doubt solo home run to left center field, setting the Foresters dugout ablaze with cheers.
The late offensive production was beautifully complimented by an electrifying bullpen, led by a dominant Jake “Freight Train” Fields, who mowed down the Blues in the back half of the game going 3 full innings and striking out 5 Blues Batters.
Following Fields exit however, the Blues tacked up 3 more runs due to a combination of sloppy walks and a perfectly placed bloop single, putting the ‘Sters in a deep hole headed into the ninth.
Despite a late inning push, which was highlighted by a Jack Holman RBI single, the hill was just too high to climb, and the Foresters dropped their final game of the season series against their heated rivals 8-7.
The ‘Sters are in action for their final home weekend series of the season tomorrow evening. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 pm at Eddie Mathews field.
