July 28, 2011

Compton, CA - Manager Bill Pintard picked up his 700th win Thursday night in South Los Angeles with a 12-3 victory over the MLB Academy Barons. “The interesting thing is, I didn’t play in any of [these games]. It goes to show that if you stick around long enough, things like this happen,” remarked Pintard with a big smile across his face.

Things got started for the Foresters in the top of the first inning when James Wharton hit an RBI triple to right center field scoring Jeff McVaney from first base.

The Barons promptly tied the game in the bottom of the first with Julian Duran’s RBI single up the middle, bringing in D.J. Wallace from second base.

Santa Barbara jumped back on top in the second after an error by the Barons’ short stop brought Derek Legg and Tyler Pearson around to score, putting them up 3-1. The Foresters never looked back from there, scoring five runs in the fifth off a two RBI triple by Jeff McNeil, along with RBIs from Michael Ratterree and Legg. They then added two more in the seventh and two more in the eighth to cap off the victory.

Austin Kubitza pitched lights out in his second win of the summer. Kubitza struck out ten in five innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Kubitza appears to have found his rhythm. “It’s a good thing going into Wichita. I need to feel that good if not better,” said Kubitza afterwards.

Kubitza was relieved by Ian McCarthy in the sixth inning, who threw three scoreless innings where he allowed no hits and struck out five. Jeff McVaney then came in to close the game down in the ninth.

The San Luis Obispo Blues won their final CCL game against the OC Pioneers Thursday night. The Foresters’ win keeps them in first place by one-half game over the Blues. Santa Barbara must take two out of three from Team Vegas this weekend to clinch their ninth consecutive CLL championship.

The Foresters open up their series against Team Vegas Friday evening at 5:00 pm. The game will be broadcast on AM 990 and SBForesters.org, one hour tape delayed.