The outfielder reached base four times, nabbing two hits and scoring two runs with three stolen bases as the Foresters picked up a 4-3 win over the visiting Palm Springs Power at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.
Sam Stafford watched his University of Texas teammates lose in the CWS title game to LSU on Wednesday, but the Longhorns’ mood might be brightened just a little bit when they hear how their young redshirt did against the Power. Stafford struck out seven batters in six innings of work, giving up just one run on three hits with two walks. “Palm Springs is a very good team. They were 17-4 coming in here and they’re a very good (National Baseball Congress) club,” said Pintard.
Casey McMurray, the designated hitter batting in the ninth spot, was 2-for-3 with a walk, providing a nice one-two punch with Workman following him as the leadoff batter. Santa Barbara’s first batter reached base in five of the first six innings, and the win could have been a lot more comfortable if 10 runners were not stranded.
“I thought we played well enough to win and for the most part our guys executed pretty well,” said Pintard.
Santa Barbara (12-5) struck first when McMurray scored on a sacrifice fly by James Wharton in the third inning. The Foresters added two more in the fifth with McMurray on third and Workman at second, as Matt Valaika hit a single but ended up all the way over at third thanks to a Palm Springs error.
The Power would climb back, scoring after a leadoff triple in the sixth and a solo homer by Josh Manzano in the seventh.
Despite the error, Hutchinson continued his strong play by allowing just one hit while closing out the game.
Palm Springs had runners at first and second with two outs in the ninth, but University of Nebraska bound catcher Patric Tolentino finished it himself by catching Jeff Moreland leaning at first base.
“The guy just had a huge secondary lead and James (Wharton) saw me so we gave our sign and I made the throw down there,” said Tolentino. “I’m always thinking about that, especially if a pitcher is having trouble throwing strikes.”
The Foresters will try to improve on their 4-2 record in the California Collegiate League as the San Luis Obispo Rattlers come into town for a three-game weekend series beginning Friday at 5 p.m. The Rattlers feature recent Dos Pueblos graduate Robert Vickers — a shortstop headed to Cal State Northridge — and Mason Radeke, who was an ace hurler for Santa Barbara High before moving on to Cal Poly, where he went 6-2 as a freshman this season.
NOTES: Tim Crabbe, who pitched for Westmont and the Foresters, signed a contract with the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday and will head out to play for their rookie-level club in Billings, Montana on Friday. Foresters shortstop Michael Liberto will head back home to Louisiana for surgery after being diagnosed with a torn labrum. He will be out for the rest of the summer.
