(July
27) - The Indians (38-16 overall, 16-6 CCL) fell
to the Santa Barbara Foresters Friday night at
Cesar Uyesaka Stadium on the UCSB campus 10-1.
If the Indians win their final two games against
the Foresters they will end the Forester's streak
of CCL titles and win their first.
The
Indians got on the board early with a Chase Leavitt
single up the middle off Texas lefty Austin Woods.
The ball scooted past CF Kyle Russell for a two
base error. The next batter Evan Wells hit an
RBI groundout to give the Indians a 1-0 lead.
Cody Smith kept the Foresters hitters silent until
the 4th inning when 1B Andy Preston, who has been
an Indians killer all season, turned on a fastball
and plated it over the right field fence.
Preston
did it again in the 5th inning with a bloop single
to left center field with the bases loaded to
score 2 and give the Foresters the lead they would
not relinquish.
TJ
Statsny relieved Smith in the 6th and worked out
of a jam. In the 7th, the Foresters got to Statsny
who gave up 3 runs. He was picked up by Steve
Martlaro who allowed a bases loaded single but
managed to get out of the jam with a double play
to 3B Blake Crosby. Heading into the 8th the Foresters
had a 6-1 advantage and would add on 4 more in
the bottom half to put this one out of reach.
Tonight
the Indians throw lefty John Thomas against the
Foresters. Thomas has faced Santa Barbara twice
this season, the first time pitching 71/3 innings
giving up 2 earned runs and leaving the game with
a lead the bullpen could not hold. The second
time Thomas faced Santa Barbara he was unhittable,
Wednesday June 20, when he threw a complete game
giving up 5 hits, 2 runs, and striking out a season
high 13 batters.
The
local product (2nd round pick of SF in 1999) Thomas
will be reunited with his younger brother Josh
Thomas, Cal Poly SLO and recent addition to roster,
behind the plate for the first time in regualr
action. Be sure to come out and see this local
battery as well as the Indians in their final
home game of the season.
