The record crowd was still filing in, and it was already 2-0 in favor of the visiting Conejo Oaks.
A rocky opening to the Santa Barbara Foresters’ 4th of July smoothed out nicely as the eight-time defending California Collegiate League champions ended up scoring eight unanswered runs to win 8-4 in front of a packed house at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium on Monday.
University of Texas starter Austin Dicharry, whom manager Bill Pintard described as a “very polished” pitcher before the game, allowed two runs on a single and two doubles before recording the first out in his first start. He ended up with the win, however, allowing four hits and striking out six over five innings.
“He struggled a little bit command-wise early and they jumped on him, but if we come back and answer with some runs to back up, he’ll calm down and find the zone,” said outfielder Lance Roenicke, who finished 3-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases.
After Dicharry’s day was done, lightning rod Stephen Johnson came on and was hitting 96 mph on the radar gun to go along with a nasty curveball, giving up one hit and striking out three in two innings.
“It’s been so fun [working with Johnson]… He’s pumping in 96 with late movement, and then he’s dropping the hammer with the curveball and some of them are falling in for strikes,” said Pintard.
The offensive effort was balanced, with runs being scored in every inning but the third and seventh and eight different Foresters getting base hits. Shortstop Christian Summers had three hits, as did designated hitter Jeff McVaney.
It was an emotional day before the ballgame, as Sonya Urzua threw out the first pitch. Sonya is a San Marcos High School student battling a rare form of cancer, and the Foresters are wearing her initials on the back of their caps this year, as is the tradition with the team’s Hugs for Cubs program.
“She had just had surgery down at UCLA, and we didn’t know if she was gonna be able to make it or not. If the surgery didn’t go well she’d probably still be there, but she came and threw out the first pitch,” said Pintard. “Our players were really moved.”
There was also a moment of silence observed in honor of United States military servicemen and women who have lost their lives in combat. One of those heroes is Army Sergeant Cody Legg, the older brother of Foresters third baseman Derek Legg, who was killed in Iraq in 2008.
Santa Barbara (19-7, 15-7 CCL) travels to play Conejo (15-12, 10-12 CCL) in Thousand Oaks on Tuesday at 5 p.m. All games are broadcast on AM 990 and www.sbforesters.org.
SANTA BARBARA 8, CONEJO 4
Conejo…200 000 002 — 4 8 2
Foresters…110 131 01x — 8 15 0
C — Lee (L, 1-3), McIntyre (5), Montgomery (7), Richards (8) and Landeros. SB — Dicharry (W 1-0), Johnson (6), Vedo (8) and Pearson.
2B — C: Koons, Heineman. SB: Vertigan, Ratterree, Summers. 3B — SB: McNeil.
