Santa Barbara High’s baseball team didn’t win on Tuesday, but it didn’t lose either. The Dons and Righetti settled on a 9-9 draw after the seventh inning ended in near darkness.
Dons assistant coach Mike Cooney thought it felt like a win, however, as Santa Barbara came from behind three times after falling behind by the scores of 3-0, 6-2, and 8-4.
“It’s the kind of tie that feels three-quarters like a win,” Cooney said. “It felt like we were climbing uphill all day today.”
Kees T’Sas and Cameron Gniadek had big days at the plate for the Dons, accounting for six of the team’s nine hits. Each had three hits, reached base four times and recorded two RBIs. T’Sas ripped a solo home run in the third inning and knocked in Danny Zandona in the top of the seventh to tie it.
Trey Barrett, who will be assuming the Dons’ closer role this season, came on in the bottom of the seventh inning. With a runner on third and one out, Barrett was able to strike out two consecutive hitters to salvage the tie.
Santa Barbara (1-0-1) continues play in the Central Coast Tournament on Thursday with a home game against Arroyo Grande.
SANTA BARBARA 9, RIGHETTI 9 (play suspended due to darkness)
Santa Barbara 002 213 1 – 9 9 2
Righetti 303 201 0 – 9 9 2
SB – T’sas, Dewell(4), Barrett (7), and Eaton. R – Sauer, Harper (4), Greene (6), and Regalado. 2b – R 3 (Mwatt, Prober, Van Allen),
SB 3 (Gniadek 2, T’Sas). 3b – SB (Gniadek) HR – SB T’Sas (3rd, no one on).
