Kansas beckons.
The Santa Barbara Foresters picked up a nail-biting 3-1 win over Team Vegas at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium on Sunday, clinching the Rawlings California Cup Tournament title and and a berth in the upcoming National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita.
Starting pitcher Chris Joyce went seven and two-thirds innings, striking out 11 and throwing 120 pitches before giving way to Matthew Reckling with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the eighth. With the score tied 1-1, Reckling recorded strikes on the first two pitches to Kris Kaplan but the count eventually went full. He then recorded the pivotal strikeout on a curveball.
“[Catcher Patric Tolentino] called a fastball at 3-2, but I shook him because I wanted to throw the hook,” said Reckling. “I knew I could spot it up and get a swing… It was fun.”
Jeremy Rathjen reached second base on a two-base throwing error to lead off the bottom of the seventh and eventually stole third. Michael Ratterree and James Wharton couldn’t bring him home to break the tie, and Tolentino was plunked by a pitch to put runners at the corners. Shane Kroker than stepped up and hit a chopper that barely made it through the middle infielders to bring in Rathjen and break the tie.
“We stayed focus these past few games and now we know we’ll be in Wichita, which feels awesome… On the hit, I was sitting on a pitch down the middle and didn’t hit it very hard but it found a hole,” said Kroker.
Shane Kroker turns a double play as teammate Michael Ratterree looks on (photos by Eric Isaacs).
The Wake Forest infielder recently returned from a groin injury, and with reigning Foresters MVP Brandon Loy back home in Texas with a wrist problem, Kroker is carrying the load at the shortstop position.
“Shane Kroker is one tough hombre. He has been playing hurt, he’s been a glue for us, and we have all the confidence in the world in him,” said manager Bill Pintard.
Kyle Kubitza scored on a wild pitch in the eighth to get the insurance run. Team Vegas (10-14) scored first after the Foresters (25-7) committed back-to-back errors to open the second, but Walker Moore doubled and was driven home on a single by Jeff McVaney in the fourth. McVaney had eight RBIs in the 4-game tournament and earned MVP honors.
This year will be a record 18th consecutive appearance for the Foresters in Wichita. They won the NBC Championships in 2006 and 2008.
“Everybody stepped up in this tournament. Everybody picked each other up, and it was really a team win. That’s what you want as a coach,” said Pintard. “I’m thrilled. To tell you the truth, I’m thrilled with this win.”
The Foresters have a couple of days off before a select few will play in the California Collegiate League All-Star Game, which will be played on Wednesday at the MLB Urban Youth Academy. The game will be televised on Fox Sports West.
2010 Rawlings California Cup
All-Tournament Team
IF Kris Bryant, Team Vegas
IF Walker Moore, Santa Barbara
IF Franky Sixtos, East LA
IF Billy-Bob Ward, Team Vegas
O Kyle Jones, Conejo
O Jeff McVaney Santa Barbara
O Nick Melino, Santa Barbara
O Lance Roenicke Conejo
DH Kyle Bilbrey, Team Vegas
U Austin Kingsolver, San Luis Obispo
U Kyle Pond, Santa Maria
P Sam Lindsey, Team Vegas
P Alex Oberle, Santa Maria
P Jesse Meaux, Santa Barbara
P Jordan Shipers, Team Vegas
P Chris Joyce, SB
