Irvine, Calif. – The Orange County Riptide lost to the Santa Barbara Foresters 4-1, in a competitive game. The matchup provided a glimpse of what they can expect when these two teams face off against each other.
“I was talking with the team tonight hoping they got a taste of what this series is going to be like,” said head coach Connor Spencer. “I think these are going to be very close, competitive ball games. I was trying to paint the picture that this is about to be a bit of a dog fight here in this series.”
Stalled Offense
It was a night filled with missed opportunities for the Riptide, as they found themselves with numerous runners in scoring position but struggled to deliver the crucial hit to bring them home. Despite their efforts, they were unable to capitalize on these situations, leaving 11 runners on base. The sole run of the night came from a two-out single by Connor McGuire (Cal Baptist) following a triple by Bryce Blaser (North Carolina).
Flashing the Leather
A notable defensive play came from Patrick Hackworth (UC San Diego) in right field, as he made yet another diving catch to end the inning, effectively preventing two runs from being scored.
“Some of the plays I’ve seen him make in right, he is deceptively fast,” said Spencer. “That kid has absolutely no fear out there and could arguably be one of the best defensive outfielders in this league. He’s very fun to watch.”
(Photo Credit: Alyssa Gervacio)
Tyler Valdez (Undecided) delivered four scoreless innings on the mound, recording three strikeouts while allowing one walk and four hits. In the second inning had to navigate a challenging situation as the bases were loaded. However, he skillfully induced a 1-2-3 double play followed by a groundout, successfully escaping the inning. Valdez displayed some composure and regained control, pitching two more innings and seizing the opportunity to pitch deeper into the game.
“He was emphatically asking us for more,” Spencer said. “It was a fantastic outing and he’s been nothing but very competitive and strong for us this summer.”
Looking ahead, the Riptide will travel to Santa Barbara on Thursday in an attempt to even the series against the Foresters. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. pacific time.
Santa Barbara Foresters vs. OC Riptide – Box