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 20th. In their first visit to Sanata Barbra this 2026 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 standout defensive plays in the third inning. With catcher Nick Nashiwa (Golden West College) quick exchange, he threw down to get a runner out, stealing. Nashiwa remarked that "defense is a really big part of my game," as reflected with his attentiveness with runners on base. 

At the hot corner, Bryce Robinette (Undecided) made a great defensive play, as he fielded a hard hit chopper for the last out, 

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

A pair of hits began with Nashiwa's base hit to center and Brayden Flores (Loyola Marymount University) double that soared over the right fielder's head, followed by a hit by a pitch from Jacob Freer (Santa Clara University.) 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 ground out.

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. 

Santa Barbara tacked on two more runs in the sixth. 

Samuel Rickman (Trinity University) dominated as relief, pitching two shutout innings in the seventh and eighth. Striking out four batters and picking off two runners on first. For him, it was routine, as if playing catch with his first basemen, "[The Foresters] 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" 

The Texas natives' 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 0-3 in this four game series against the Foresters, they face them for the last time on June 30th. 

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

Contributors:

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

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