Looking to secure a spot in the California Collegiate League Championship series, the Santa Barbara Foresters fell short of clinching the North Division on the San Luis Obispo Blues field after losing 5-1 Thursday night.
Friday night’s game against the Santa Paula Halos still does not require a win to advance to the CCL Championship Series. Even with a loss, the Foresters would win the division if the Blues lose against the Conejo Oaks in San Luis Obispo.
The Blues struck first on Thursday in the first inning, as one crossed against Keaton Siomkin thanks in part to a two-out walk to Michael Pritchard. Jimmy Allen followed up with a RBI to push the first run home.
Another run came home in the third and the damage could have been worse if not for the impressive arms of two Forester defenders. A leadoff walk to Will Maddox and an error on a groundball by Allen put two men on base.
Pritchard blooped a single to shallow centerfield on a check swing to score Maddox, but a strong throw by Louie Lechich and a swinging tag by Hunter Kopycinski beat Allen according to the home plate umpire. Kopycinski then threw out Pritchard as he attempted to steal second and the inning came to an end with only one across.
The first sign of life from the Forester offense came in the sixth inning after loading the bases with no outs. Keaton Jones and Colt Atwood each recorded an infield single and Garrett Mattlage’s bunt attempt rolled its way into a single as well.
Read the remainder of this report on the Foresters website
