Seventeen innings of baseball provided for a long day on Sunday, as the Santa Barbara Foresters struggled offensively and split a doubleheader with the visiting Menlo Park Legends. Menlo Park won the first game 6-0, while the Foresters came through in walk-off fashion for a 1-0 win in the nightcap.
Jared Womack picked up a pinch-hit single with the bases loaded to clinch the second game.
“It seemed like we were never gonna score there for a second, but it was good to pick up a win and win the series,” said Womack.
The hit came off of his good friend Jonathan Abramson, who pitched for the Foresters last season.
“I had talked to him last night, and he had said that he was gonna throw today. It was pretty interesting him seeing out there on the mound,” said Womack.
The Foresters (31-11, 21-10) were plagued by five errors in the first game, stranding 11 runners on base. They left 11 on base in the second game, as well, but on a good note got an excellent outing from starter Bryan Crabb. Crabb struck out seven on just five hits through five-and-two-thirds scoreless innings.
Santa Barbara dives back into league play with just a one-game lead over the San Luis Obispo Blues on Tuesday at 5 p.m. when they host the Academy Barons at 5 p.m. The Foresters are seeking their ninth consecutive California Collegiate League title. Menlo Park is now 25-15 on the year.
An impromptu fundraiser during the second game’s radio broadcast raised $2,525 for Hugs for Cubs, the Foresters charity which benefits pediatric cancer patients.
The list of donors are as follos:
$500 – Anonymous
$500 – Anonymous
$250 – Margaret Marvin (mother of pitcher Brad Kottman)
$200 – Anonymous
$200 – Womack Construction Consulting
$100 – Jane Criswell (grandmother of player Jeff McNeil)
$100 – Dave Marshall
$100 – Tom Kotch
$100 – Frank and Deb Adams (aunt and uncle of player Brett Vertigan)
$100 – The McVaney Family
$75 – The Cornet Family
$60 – The Law Offices of Glenn Dorfman
$50 – Jim Buckley
$50 – Trish and Steve McCarthy (parents of pitcher Ian McCarthy)
$40 – Kansas Golf and Turf (family of pitcher TJ McGreevy)
$30 – The Soto Family
$30 – Robby Massar (former Foresters outfielder)
$25 – Kris Pintard
$20 – The Kavanaugh Family
