'Sters and Oaks Suspended After Nine

For the fifth and final time, the Santa Barbara Foresters and 2025 CCL Champions Conejo Oaks met. Both sides had solid offensive outputs, and while Conejo thought they got the last laugh by punching home four in the ninth to come back, the Foresters tied it in their half before the game was suspended due to daylight.

Both teams had opportunities to break the ice in this one. In the first, the Foresters got two into scoring position, one of which was courtesy of the team's 100th steal of the season. The second also saw a Forester reach third, but none were able to come home. The Oaks got their opportunity in the third, putting together a two-out rally to load the bases, but Santa Barbara starter Noah Waldeck slammed the door, getting his fourth strikeout to escape the jam.

Eventually, the 'Sters struck, finding three runs in the third. Addison Klepsch pushed Joseph Sandusky home, moving to third on the throw, before a wild pitch, two walks, and an error brought home Klepsch and Nick Salmon. 

Conejo chipped away efficiently come the fourth, a hit batter along with a single to shallow centerfield was enough to get their first run of the game.

Waldeck finished his outing in the fifth, sitting the Oaks down in order to close his appearance. Over his five innings of work, he only conceded three hits and a single walk for a single earned run, all offset by his six strikeouts.

The Foresters gave Carter Speights a cushion before he entered in the sixth. Salmon singled with one out before Joshua Woodworth hit one over the center fielder's head to the wall for an RBI double. Easton Moomau followed up with an RBI of his own, singling up the middle and being showered with moos from the Santa Barbara dugout. 

The Oaks jumped on Speights early, tagging him for two hits, a walk, and two runs, cutting the Foresters' lead in half, 5-3.

It was an immediate response from the Foresters, who jumped out to their largest lead of the game. Carter Rutenbar led off the inning with a double, eventually scoring on consecutive sacrifice flies. Cole Chamberlain then managed to work a walk to set up Salmon's moonshot into right-center field, putting the lead to five at 8-3.

Conejo continued to be a thorn in Speights' side, as they managed to push across another run on two singles, a walk, and an error, forcing Joey Wittig into the game. While the Oaks got one more on a fielder's choice, Wittig retired both batters he faced to limit the damage.

Wittig finished strong, only conceding a two-out walk to go along with his two strikeouts. Caleb Hoover took over in the ninth to finish the job. The Oaks managed to stay patient and draw three walks to go along with two singles to push two across, ending Hoover's night.

Brody Berlowitz was next out, looking to win it for Santa Barbara. He was unable to, however, as a two-run double was enough to give the Oaks their first lead of the evening.

It wasn't enough. Moomau singled with one out and was pinch-run for by Brady Janusek, who came home to tie the game at nine on a Rutenbar RBI double. 

That was it from Eddie Mathews, as daylight was sparse and the game couldn't continue into extras, forcing the game to be delayed.

The 'Sters have a rivalry match tomorrow in San Luis Obispo against the Blues. Catch the action at 4 pm on the Foresters' YouTube channel.