HENDERSON, NV — A shaky start was turned around thanks to stellar bullpen pitching as the Santa Barbara Foresters remained unbeaten with a 7-5 victory against Team Vegas in Henderson, NV, on Friday.
“We had a 7-hour bus ride this morning to get here, but our guys got off the bus and showed tremendous effort. The bullpen was outstanding,” said manager Bill Pintard.
Team Vegas, in its second year in the California Collegiate League, led 3-2 after three innings before Santa Barbara third baseman Codey Morehouse tied it up with a sacrifice fly in the fourth that drove in Blake Brown. Leadoff man Brett Vertigan blasted his second homer of the season, a two-run opposite-field shot, in the fifth to give the Foresters a lead they would not relinquish.
Starter Bryan Crabb was strong in the first but labored through a 37-pitch second inning. Santa Barbara (5-0, 3-0 CCL) had plenty of firepower in the bullpen, however, as Wichita State’s TJ McGreevy turned in three solid innings of one-run ball to pick up the win. He was followed by Stephen Johnson, who reached 96 mph on the radar gun with his fastball through 3 2/3 innings of relief. Ryan Hawthorne came in to record the final two outs for his second save of the season.
Johnson, who pitches for 5,000-student St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX, said that it was the highest velocity he’d every reached in a game.
“My fastball felt really good today, and the defense was really good behind me as well,” he said. “I’m really happy to be in Santa Barbara this summer. I’ve got to give credit to my coach, Rob Penders, for talking to Coach Pintard and getting me out here.”
James Wharton hit his fourth double of the season for Santa Barbara to drive in two runs in the first. Brown, who went 2-for-2 with a walk and a sacrifice bunt, hit a double and scored a run in the fourth.
“We did some good situational stuff offensively today,” said Pintard. “This was a good team we played today, but the guys responded.”
Team Vegas (5-2, 5-2 CCL) was led by Marvin Lewis’ two hits. The series continues with a 2 p.m. game on Saturday. All games are broadcast on AM 990 and www.sbforesters.org.
FORESTERS 7, TEAM VEGAS 5
Santa Barbara…200 121 001 — 7 10 1
Team Vegas…030 010 001 — 5 6 1
SB — Crabb, McGreevy (3), SJohnson (6), Hawthorne (9) and NJohnson. TV — DiMartino, Epstein (7), Estrella (8), Goldsack (9) and Stewart. W — McGreevy (1-0), L — DiMartino.
2B — SB: Wharton, Brown. TV: Stewart, Blades, Bird. HR — SB: Vertigan (5th, one on).
Records — SB 5-0, 3-0. TV 5-2, 5-2.
