SAN LUIS OBISPO — A couple of minor slip-ups snapped the Santa Barbara Foresters’ 10-game winning streak on Wednesday in a 5-3 loss to the rival San Luis Obispo Blues at Sinsheimer Park.
A costly late error and what manager Bill Pintard labeled as a coaching mistake led to runs for the Blues, who are now just 1.5 games behind the 8-time defending California Collegiate League champs.
“I’m wearing a little bit of this one, but if we make the plays we win. I’m just really proud of our resolve,” said manager Bill Pintard.
First baseman James Wharton hit a two-out RBI double in the top of the eighth that compounded into a game-tying two-run play on a Blues error. With Shane Kroker on second and Jeff McVaney on first, Wharton smashed a ball to right field that was bobbled by SLO’s Chad Christiensen, allowing both runners to score and Wharton to get to third. The inning ended on a Michael Ratterree groundout, sending things into the bottom half tied at 3-3.
Ratterree committed a throwing error that allowed the lead batter to reach for the Blues, and reliever TJ McGreevy then issued a walk. A successful sacrifice bunt moved the runners up to second and third to bring up Christiensen, who hit a two-run double on a 2-0 count to end the night’s scoring.
Pintard said that with first base open, he probably should have pitched around Christiensen.
“Once we fell behind the guy 2-0 we should have walked him… I should have taken it out of his hands,” he said.
Derek Legg led off the top of the ninth with his fourth single of the game, but the Blues picked up a 1-6-3 double play and a groundout to end any comeback chance.
Legg has been on fire since winning MVP of the Rawlings California Cup two weeks ago, raising his average to .320 with the 4-for-4 night.
Foresters starter Austin Dicharry went 4.1 innings, allowing three runs (two earned). Spencer Messmore got the last two outs of the fifth and McGreevy allowed two runs on three hits in three innings the rest of the way.
Wharton hit a game-winning 3-run homer a few days ago in Glendale, and came through once again in the clutch.
“Every time he gets up in a big situation you know he’s gonna get it done. It’s good to have guys you can trust like that,” said Legg.
Left-fielder Jeff McVaney, meanwhile, extended his hitting streak to a remarkable 15 games, as he is now hitting a conference-leading .448 in his second year with Santa Barbara.
Although the team’s winning streak is snapped, Pintard’s confidence certainly isn’t.
“Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, but we win a lot more than we lose so we’ll just go run 10 more off,” he said.
The two teams square off again on Thursday night at Sinsheimer Park with first pitch set for 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on AM 990 and www.sbforesters.org.
