Johnny Brontsema’s seventh-inning single scored Zach Torres and gave Santa Barbara High’s baseball team a 4-3 victory over Buena on Wednesday.
With the Channel League game knotted at 3-3 going into the bottom of the seventh, Torres was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning. A bunt single by Connor McManigal followed by a sacrifice bunt by Kenny Crawford gave the Dons runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. After intentionally walking Kees t’Sas to load the bases and set up a force at every base, Brontsema lined his hit up the middle to clinch the walk-off victory.
Brontsema finished with a team-high three hits.
Gabe Grand-Colas was Santa Barbara’s starting pitcher. The sophomore held the Bulldogs hitless into the fifth inning and left the game with a 3-2 lead. Tanner Guerra took over in relief and earned the victory despite giving up the tying run in the seventh inning.
Santa Barbara’s first three runs were manufactured using small ball. Jason Jimenez recorded the Dons’ first RBI on a bases-loaded walk in the first inning. In their two-run fourth, the Dons scored on a suicide squeeze and a delayed double-steal. Of Santa Barbara’s seven hits, three were bunt singles.
The result makes Santa Barbara 3-6 in league play and drops Buena to 6-3. The Dons, 13-9 overall, host Dos Pueblos on Friday.
SANTA BARBARA 4, BUENA 3
B 000 011 1 – 3 7 1
SB 100 200 1 – 4 7 2
B – Brooks, and Coker. SB – Grand-Colas, Guerra (7), and St. John. WP – Guerra 3-0.
2b: B Schwartz, Montgomery.
