The Groove Was In Grove: Foresters Win Their 11th Straight

Winning has become a strict habit for the Santa Barbara Foresters. 

Eleven straight wins. 

One of the hottest teams in the CCL is not slowing down anytime soon. 

The Foresters stretched their 2026 season winning streak to 11 games on Wednesday, June 24th, defeating the Philippines Baseball Group 14 - 1 behind six dominant innings from Tanner Grove and a balanced offense that scored in three different innings. Starting on the mound for the Foresters, Tanner Grove piled up 12 Ks in his longest outing of the summer so far. While Joshua Woodworth, Christian Turner, Marcus Greis, and Joseph Sandusky led the offense that would not allow the visiting team back into the game after a five-run third inning. 

Grove, making his second appearance on the mound in a Foresters jersey after posting a 2.00 ERA over his first nine innings for the Foresters, looked locked in from the opening pitch for this game. The UC Berkeley right-hander needed just one inning to help establish complete control of the ball, retiring the side in order in the first. While Santa Barbara was unable to capitalize offensively after Carter Rutenbar was thrown out trying to advance to second, Grove showed early that runs would be hard to come by for the lineup from the Philippines. 

Grove only became more dominant in the second. Working quickly and attacking the strike zone, Grove struck out three more hitters to give himself five strikeouts through two innings, while the Foresters' offense was held quiet for a second straight frame. 

But the breakthrough finally came for Santa Barbara in the third inning. 

After Grove struck out the Philippines once again, bringing his total to eight strikeouts over three innings, the Foresters immediately rewarded their starting pitcher with a five - run rally. Liam Wilson had reached first base safely before Christian Turner and Carter Rutenbar had worked back-to-back walks to load the bases. Joseph Sandusky patiently earned another walk to force home the game's first run, where Wylan Nelson had followed with another RBI walk to double the advantage. 

However, the pressure had continued to contribute to the Philippines pitching staff. A pair of wild pitches had allowed another run to score at home before Woodworth lined a two-run single directly into left field. An infield misplay allowed Woodworth to take extra bases as two more runners had crossed home, giving the Foresters a commanding lead of 5 - 0. 

In the fourth, the Philippines had briefly answered. Austin Basch reached with a single, stole second base, and later crossed home plate on Nomar Vazquez's RBI single to help trim down the deficit to 5 - 1. This one singular run would be the only one that the Philippines managed to get on the board. 

Grove responded exactly as an ace should. The right-hander settled back in on the mound after one run was scored, where he did not allow any further damage before taking complete control of the fifth. He struck out the side in the second consecutive inning, reaching a total of 11 strikeouts, then watched the Foresters' offense put the game further out of reach for the Philippines. 

Marcus Greis started the inning with a walk before Carter Rutenbar singled to put two runners on the board. Sandusky had successfully delivered an RBI single from the batter's box through the left side of the diamond. After Nelson reached safely, Woodworth came through with another solid two-run single. Nick Salmon followed later in the inning with an RBI knock of his own as Santa Barbara continued their advantage over the Philippines, 9 - 1. 

Grove finished his night exactly how he started it. In total, he collected 12 strikeouts after only allowing one run in six innings before handing the ball over to relief pitcher Grady Westphal. Westphal never allowed Grove's flow to escape the Philippines' control. He overwhelmed the Philippines hitters across the seventh and eighth innings, striking out five batters in just two scoreless frames while even allowing the Foresters one final opportunity to add more runs to the scoreboard. 

Santa Barbara did not waste that opportunity. 

Caleb Hoover, who hit in the pinch-hitter spot in Bill Pintard's lineup, hit a single to spark another rally before Woodworth reached first base once again. Turner then lined a two-run single into right field, bringing Hoover home and Liam Wilson to push the lead 11 - 1. Only moments later, Greis had added two more insurance runs for the Foresters with a sharp single into right center in the field, plating Turner and Woodworth as Santa Barbara regained the lead of 14 - 1. 

Mason Crang tossed a scoreless eighth inning before Joey Wittig took over the mound in the ninth inning. Even though the Philippines had attempted to capitalize on its best scoring opportunities of the night by loading the bases, the Foresters maintained their composure.

They continued to push forward despite the Philippines' success. 

After the Philippines, Hector Piña was thrown out at home attempting to score another point, Nomar Vazquez grounded into a game-ending double play, with Santa Barbara's Max Weddle recording the final out to help secure the Foresters' 11th straight win of the 2026 summer season. 

The Foresters continue to fire on all cylinders as they remain one of the hottest teams in the California Colliegate League. Catch the Foresters at Santa Barbara High School at 4:30 PM on June 25th against their long-time rival, the SLO Blues. The game can also be live-streamed on our YouTube channel. 

Ster it up!