Small-ball helped the Santa Barbara Foresters to a big win, 8-4, against the Conejo Oaks on Thursday in day one of the Rawlings California Cup Tournament.
“You have to win this first game of the tournament because if you get a loss then the pressure is really on you to continue to perform well,” said Foresters manager Bill Pintard.
The tournament’s winning team earns an automatic to the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, KS. The Foresters were NBC National Champions in 2006 and 2008.
After two innings of scoreless ball, Foresters catcher Patric Tolentino started the third inning with a leadoff walk. Next up was right fielder Chase Yost who laid down a sac bunt, advancing Tolentino to second. Centerfielder Walker Moore knocked Tolentino in with a base hit and then came around to score off a single by Kyle Kubitza.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, the Oaks tied the game after centerfielder Brad Greve and right fielder Kyle Jones bumped in a pair of runs.
Conejo played catch-up during innings four and five but in the top of six, Santa Barbara pulled ahead, posting a pair of runs on the scoreboard.
The Oaks, now down by two, threatened to re-tie the game after Foresters starting pitcher Hoby Milner put two runners aboard with a walk and hit batter.
With no outs and runners on first and second, Tim Kelley, freshly off the DL, entered the game to relieve Milner. A sacrifice bunt by the next Oaks batter allowed runners to advance to second and third. Kelley struck out the next two batters, preventing the runners from scoring and maintaining the Foresters’ 5-3 lead.
“[Milner] gave us a solid outing through six, he was a little shaky in the seventh so we got him out of there. He was outstanding today and he got the W” Pintard said.
Also outstanding was the bat of Foresters leftfielder Jeff McVaney who went 3-for-4 with a triple, two singles and three runs scored. He also knocked in the run that broke the 4-4 tie and put the Foresters ahead for the remainder of the game.
“We know it’s a tournament, it’s important to get to Wichita I think we all focused more than we usually do,” McVaney said.
Shortstop Shane Kroker went 2-4 with two RBIs, providing the second run that put the Foresters lead even further out of reach.
Despite the nine hits Santa Barbara rallied for, Pintard was also complimentary of the team’s successfully executed bunts.
“Our bunting game was really good. We need small-ball. I think we had only one failed execution today,” he said.
The Oaks committed four errors throughout the game, giving the Foresters extra opportunities to score.
“We had to capitalize on their errors, and we did,” Pintard said.
Day two of the tournament picks up at 12 p.m. when the Oaks (12-20) face the East L.A. Dodgers. The Foresters (22-7) play at 4 p.m. against the Urban Baseball Academy (18-9).
“We take care of business [on Friday] and we’ll be 2-0. We’ll be in a good spot,” Pintard said.
