Saints Drop in Rematch against the Foresters

SANTA BARBARA, CA - The Arroyo Seco Saints (4-8) were defeated 7-2 by the Santa Barbara Foresters (12-1) on June 20. In their first visit to Santa Barbara this season, the Saints stayed close, but the game got away from them in later innings. 

LHP Joe O'Regan (Undecided) took the mound for the third time this season, pitching five innings, striking out six Foresters and giving up five runs on six hits. 

This rematch was full of excitement from both teams. After giving up two runs in the first, O'Regan continued stronger with three shutout innings. 

The Saints had several standout defensive plays in the third inning. With a quick exchange by catcher Nik Nashiwa (Golden West College), he threw down to second base to get a runner out stealing. Nashiwa remarked that "defense is a really big part of my game," as reflected in his attentiveness with runners on base. 

At the hot corner, Bryce Robinette (Undecided) fielded a hard-hit chopper for the last out. 

The Saints got on the board in the sixth inning, almost batting around the order.

Nashiwa got things started with a base hit to center, and Brayden Flores (Loyola Marymount University) hit a double that soared over the right fielder's head. Jacob Freer (Santa Clara University) was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. On a full count, Zach Leite (Old Dominion University) drew a bases-loaded walk to score the Saints' first run of the game. 

Evan Reiter (Santa Ana College) secured the Saints' second run through an RBI groundout.

Nashiwa shares how he learns from previous games, as a staircase of growth, "I see every game as an opportunity to produce and being able to come through is huge." He led off the top of the sixth and seventh inning with a single, reflecting this sentiment. 

However, Santa Barbara tacked on two more runs in the sixth, taking a 7-2 lead that would stand for the rest of the game. 

Samuel Rickman (Trinity University) dominated in relief, pitching two shutout innings in the seventh and eighth. On top of striking out four batters, he also picked off two runners on first; for him, it was routine, as if playing catch with his first basemen. 

"[The Foresters had] been really jumpy the whole game, so I think it was really easy. If you get the timing right, a lot of time, it's just playing catch," Rickman said. 

The Texas native's family flew over from Houston to watch him compete, giving him a sense of motivation as he pitched. "It's really fun for me and a cool moment," Rickman shared. 

Looking ahead, he shared how promising the Saints are. "I think this team has a lot of potential … we just have to put it all together, and it'll click together really quick," Rickman explains how they must build momentum as a team to "start winning more baseball games."

The Saints are now 0-3 against the Foresters and will get one last chance to grab a win from them on June 30. 

Returning home to Jackie Robinson Field, Arroyo Seco looks to face the Conejo Oaks on Sunday, June 21, at 4:05 p.m. 

Contributors:

• Saints Reporter: Cynthia Fausto (University of California Irvine)

• Saints Photographer: Aaliyah Alamillo (University of La Verne)