By Jim Buckley (Photo by Kylie Koeper)
’Twas a grand ol’ time at the ballyard on Friday night, as Jace Jung’s bases-clearing round-tripper keyed a six-run second frame that blew open the Foresters’ 8-5 win over the SoCal Giants. The game actually featured a pair of baseball’s biggest hits—the Giants had a slamboni of their own in the ninth to make it interesting.
Sean McLain got the fun started in the second when he ripped a one-out, two-run double down the right field line. With McLain on second and Steven Zubac on third, Matthew McLain walked to load the bases two-thirds with McLains. Jung then promptly bashed his grand slam high over the left-centerfield fence. It tied him for the summer lead at 5 homers with Christian Encarnacion.
Jung’s blast was more than enough support for starter Ian Churchill (pictured) and the relief squad. After Churchill allowed only a run in his three innings, Derrek True, Bryce Warrecker, Peyton Palette, and Sean Mullen shut down the Giants on one hit and nine strikeouts until the ninth. That was when normally reliable Elijah Trest faltered—a pair of walks and an error set up Charlie Saum’s salami. But he righted the ship and closed out the Foresters’ memorable 19th win.
Earlier, after the Giants had scratched one back in the third on a bases-loaded wild pitch, the Foresters added run a pair of runs in the fourth when they McLained ’em again. Sean and Matthew both reached base and then pulled off what is certainly the first double-brother double-steal in Foresters history. Peyton Graham drove in Sean, and then Branden Boissierie singled in Matthew to make it 8-1 until the ninth.
The Foresters continue their on-again, off-again series with the Santa Maria Pea Soup on Saturday with a 6 pm game; tune in online at KCSB.org/sports.
