WICHITA, Kan. - The Santa Barbara, KS Foresters secured its spot in Monday night’s championship game in the 2020 NBC World Series powered by Evergy with a 5-1 victory over the Cheney, KS Diamond Dawgs on Saturday night at Eck Stadium.
Santa Barbara will make its 10th championship game appearance in NBC World Series history, having a 7-2 record overall in the finals. The Foresters will also make its sixth championship game appearance in the last 10 years at the NBC World Series.
Casey Dykstra led the Foresters with a 3-for-3 day at the plate to go with three RBIs while Ryan Holgate came up with a 2-for-3 outing and scored two runs. Pitcher Kyle Luckham Came up with four strikeouts in six innings pitched for the Foresters.
Following a double by Jace Jung, who advanced to third base off a wild pitch, the Foresters scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the first after a fielding error by Cheney. Sean McLain drew a two-out walk and advanced to second off a wild pitch in the bottom of the second inning, scoring off an RBI single by Dykstra to move the Foresters ahead 2-0.
A wild pitch and an RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth inning allowed the Foresters to double its lead, with Dykstra coming up with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Santa Barbara a five-run lead. Cheney avoided the shutout in the top of the ninth inning, scoring its only run off a double by Jackson Glenn.
Cheney will face the Hutchinson, KS Monarchs on Sunday night at 6 p.m. at Eck Stadium.