By Jim Buckley, photos by Ed Bailey
For the second game in a row at the NBC World Series, the Foresters used a key two-out hit to win and advance. Will Rogers delivered a game-winning bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eleventh to defeat the Seattle Blackfins 3-2.
The dramatic play ended a chess match of a game that saw both teams squander several run-scoring chances. In the deciding inning, Foresters C Andrew Semo was hit by a pitch to lead off. Dee Kennedy’s sac bunt attempt was thrown past first base, sending Semo to third. With two outs, Jack Holman was intentionally walked to load ’em up. Then Rogers slammed the first pitch he saw into left for his third hit of the night, but the biggest one, sending Semo home with the winning run.
Seattle’s big lefty pitcher, Cameron Blowers, made like 1991 Jack Morris and went all 11 innings. He was not overpowering, but amid his incredible 150-plus pitches, he mixed things up well and kept Foresters hitters a bit off-balance. He did give up 13 hits and three walks, but came up with enough big pitches to blunt several Foresters rallies. In all, Santa Barbara left 14 men on base.
After the Foresters took a 2-0 lead, the Blackfins got one in the seventh and then tied the game 2-2 in the ninth, leading to the late-game drama.
Jack Holman opening the scoring in the first by smacking a line drive solo homer to right, the Foresters’ first baseman second straight NBC game with an RBI. The ’Sters added another in the second. After Jonah Sebring got new life when a pop foul hit the turf, he promptly lined the next pitch up the middle for a single, the first of his three knocks on the night. Ryan Tayman followed with a walk. Drew Markle then lofted a fly into short left that was perfectly placed in a no man’s land amid ’Fins fielders. Sebring scored on the play to make it 2-0.
Foresters starter Frank Camarillo (below) pitched more than well enough to earn the win. He left runners on base with inning-ending strikeouts in the first and second. He was even better for the rest of his six-inning outing, striking out 9 in all, while allowing only three hits.
After Camarillo was taken out, the Blackfins scored in the seventh. After giving up a leadoff single, reliever Ty Zahradnik got the groundball he wanted, but an error on the play left Seattle with runners on first and third. A single then scored the first run allowed by Santa Barbara in Wichita. But Jake Fields, another arm from the deep Foresters bullpen, came on to strike out a pair and end the threat. Seattle threatened again in the eighth, but Jake Dixon got a key strikeout and then catcher Tayman cut down a runner trying to steal for the third out. In all, Foresters pitchers ended up with 16 Ks on the night.
The Blackfins’ tying run came in the ninth. After a leadoff double and a sac bunt, Dixon threw a pitch behind the batter and a Seattle runner was able to score from third.
Santa Barbara rounds out pool play with a game Monday, July 29. They face the Haysville Aviators beginning at 1 pm Santa Barbara time.
