Sports Medley
S.B. Foresters Win NBC World Series, and Water Polo, Volleyball, and Soccer News
Question marks surrounded both Usain Bolt and the Santa Barbara Foresters when they entered the ultimate arenas of competition this month, and they both answered them emphatically. But while Bolt’s repeat victories in the Olympic sprints at London were over in a flash, the Foresters had to grind out their second consecutive title in the National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series in Wichita, Kansas.
“This was probably the toughest of all,” said Foresters manager Bill Pintard, whose team earned its fourth NBC trophy in seven years. “We had to win all those games down the stretch, winning by scores like 2-1, 5-4. We didn’t have the most talent, but we did play as a team.”
When they were swept by the San Luis Obispo Blues in a three-game series a month ago, it appeared the Foresters would not win their own league, much less a national championship. But they proceeded to win 16 of their last 17 games — including all their remaining league outings. They went 7-1 in Wichita, beating teams from Texas, Arizona, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, and Washington.
