Last Home Win Complete, Wichita Awaits

The Santa Barbara Foresters continued their strong summer with a convincing 9-2 victory over the San Luis Obispo Blues on Sunday, July 19th at Eddie Mathews Field. Santa Barbara collected 10 hits, took advantage of three Blues errors and several passed balls, and received contributions throughout the lineup to improve with another California Collegiate League win and start their journey in Wichita, Kansas for the 2026 NBC World Series. 

Santa Barbara's pitching staff combined to allow just two runs on five hits while recording nine strikeouts. Brody Berlowitz made the start and worked the plate for three innings, allowing one run on two hits while successfully striking out five without issuing a walk. Nick Salmon followed with two innings of relief, surrendering one run on one hit with two strikeouts. Carter Speights delivered three perfect innings out of the bullpen, retiring all nine batters he faced and allowing no hits or walks. Jack Fowler closed the game in the ninth, working around two singles and striking out one to preserve the Foresters' 9-2 victory. 

Santa Barbara wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard in the opening inning. Donovan Lasalle led off with a double before advancing to third on a passed ball and scoring on a wild pitch. Later in the frame, Joshua Woodworth lined an RBI single to left field to bring home Easton Moomau and give the Foresters an early 2-0 advantage. 

SLO answered with a run in the second after Kosei Suzuki doubled home Diego Murillo, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The Blues threatened again, but the Foresters escaped the inning with the lead intact. Another Blues run came in the fifth when Dominick Najar delivered an RBI single, tying the game at 2-2. 

The tie didn't last long. In the bottom half, Nick Salmon and Joshua Woodworth opened the inning with back-to-back singles before Brady Janusek moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Wylan Nelson delivered the biggest of the inning, ripping a two-run single to center field to score Salmon and Woodworth and put Santa Barbara back in front, 4-2. 

Nelson continued his standout performance in the seventh inning by launching a home run to right field, extending the Foresters' lead to 5-2. The blast capped a perfect offensive night for the first baseman, who finished 2 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs. 

The Foresters put the game completely out of reach during a chaotic eighth inning. After Easton Moomau walked and Caleb Hoover singled, a series of passed balls allowed Moomau to score. Another passed ball and a throwing error by the catcher brought Hoover home before Makani Nabarro crushed a two-run double to right field, plating Brady Janusek and Joseph Sandusky. The four-run inning stretched Santa Barbara's lead to 9-2. 

Woodworth led the Foresters with two hits, while Nelson finished with three RBIs and Nabarro added two RBIs of his own. Donovan Lasalle reached base early with a leadoff double, and Sandusky chipped in a hit and reached base multiple times as the offense continued to manufacture runs throughout the night. 

SLO mounted one final threat in the ninth after back-to-back singles, but Fowler induced a game-ending double play before striking out Suzuki to close out the 9-2 victory. 

Following the last homestand win, Head Coach of the Foresters, Bill Pintard, reflected on what has made the 2026 team so special, pointing towards the relationship within the clubhouse rather than just the talent shown on the field. "It was a joy coaching these guys. They are good guys. They care and root for each other. When guys are doing good, they cheer them on. We get excited when we see our guys succeed," Bill Pintard stated. He pointed to first baseman Wylan Nelson's performance as a good example of that type of support. "Like Wylan Nelson. He was struggling for a bit, but today he got us a run. There was nobody more excited for him than his own teammates."

Pintard is a big believer in chemistry being the driving force behind the Foresters' success throughout the summer. "This year it's a different group of guys," he said. "I often say that chemistry is more important than talent. A bunch of talent or a bunch of guys just playing for themselves does not usually work out as much as you would want it to." The veteran skipper emphasized that the team's willingness to celebrate each other's success has helped create a winning culture throughout the 2026 season. 

With the team's final homestand win, the Foresters are now on their way to the NBC World Series in Wichita, Kansas, continuing one of the most remarkable moments in collegiate summer baseball. The annual tournament brings together many of the nation's top summer league teams, and Santa Barbara has become a staple of the event thanks to decades of consistent baseball talent, donations to the Wichita Fund, host families, and fans. 

With the victory pushing the Foresters to a good start to their week before they compete in their 35th consecutive bid to the NBC World Series, Pintard is highly confident his 2026 team can compete on a national stage. "I think this team can win," he said with a big bright smile. "A little light on pitching. Our offense is insane. We led the CCL in hitting, stolen bases, walks, strikeouts, and all other important categories. We play hard. We play fast. That's all you really gotta do."

The Foresters will look to add their 11th NBC Championship title in Kansas. Throughout the years, the program has produced countless professional players and championship-caliber teams, making the NBC World Series an expectation rather than a goal. As the regular season for the CCL winds down, the Foresters will aim to carry their Santa Barbara momentum into the postseason and make another deep run against some of the best collegiate summer teams across the nation and local to Kansas. 

The 2026 season was another memorable chapter in the history of the Santa Barbara Foresters. Throughout the last two months, the team has competed with consistency, resilience, and a commitment to playing the game the right way. Whether it was dominant performances on the mound, good eyes while hitting and baserunning, or the type of camaraderie that defined PPintard'sclubhouse, the Foresters once again showcased the standard of excellence the program is known for. With the CCL regular season complete, the Foresters now turn their full attention to the NBC World Series, where they look to continue their success. 

Be sure to follow along as the Santa Barbara Foresters begin their journey in pursuit of a memorable postseason run and hopefully bring back NBC Championship title number eleven!