What in the World (Cup)?

The World Cup ended its five-week North American run with two of the most diametrically-opposed games imaginable. The final found Argentina strangely taking on the style deployed by England in the semi-final when the European side went into ultimate defensive posture after scoring a single goal, allowing the South American defending champs to once again stage a comeback with its somewhat unpredictable offense. 

Argentina didn’t even wait until halftime to basically abandon a serious effort at scoring, sending only a few players forward on any possible attack, perhaps a bit understandable given Spain’s spectacular midfield defense, but predictably leading to a late goal in extra time for the Euro champs. Don’t blame Lionel Messi, who was by far the best Argentine player outside of the goaltender, but the worthy team won 1-0. I guess it’s just as true in futbol as football that, as John Madden famously said, “The only thing a Prevent Defense does is prevent you from winning.” 

The day before, however, the 3rd place game was such a freewheeling sprint that the commentator on Aussie’s SBS station said if you had watched both games, you must have wondered if they were playing two different sports. Apparently, no meaningful worries about losing led to an offensive onslaught, with 10 total goals scored – by far the most of the tournament – and a chance to enjoy the precision passing and sensational shots on goal of “the beautiful game.” 

Personally, I’m full of mixed emotions at the end of the tournament – sad not to have any more games to watch, and seeing communities and diasporas come out to cheer on their teams together, but happy that I have more free hours for perhaps more productive endeavors. 

Getting your Kicks in Town

Soccer fans won’t have to wait long to see matches right here in town as the heralded UCSB Men’s Soccer team launches its preseason with the annual Blue-Gold intrasquad scrimmage on August 8, followed by an exhibition (known internationally as a “friendly”) against LMU on six days later. The regular season gets going August 21 with the Gauchos hosting San Jose State, also at Harder Stadium. UCSB earned their 14th Big West Championship last year going undefeated in the conference. 

On the professional front, Santa Barbara Sky Football Club is still planning to launch its inaugural season this coming March as part of the United Soccer League’s Championship Division II league, last we heard anyway. Home games for the side owned by Peter Moore, former CEO of Liverpool FC, are also slated for UCSB’s Harder Stadium, which boasted a new pitch installed last year, in time to attract Austria’s World Cup team to make the facility their training base this summer. The club would be the first to play in a professional soccer league in town in more than 35 years. But given that the club has already postponed its debut twice starting in 2024, we’ll see what happens. 

‘Ster it up, all the way to Wichita

Also coming to a close just two hours after the World Cup final was the Santa Barbara Foresters collegiate summer baseball team’s regular season. The campaign was once again very successful, as the ‘Sters soared to the top of the California Collegiate League early on and basically stayed there all season, finishing with a 26-6-1 California Collegiate League record overall, 18-4-1 in the Southern Division. The team notched an 11-game win streak along the way, including longtime coach Bill Pintard’s 1,200th Foresters victory.

Your correspondent had some good times at Eddie Matthews Field at Santa Barbara High School, including a one-inning stretch where he not only nabbed a foul ball that rolled down the hill behind where he was standing right into his waiting hand but then a Foresters grand slam home run. Not bad for a 20-minute investment. (I also caught one of the Foresters’ thrilling walk off victories, a bases clearing double with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. Maybe I’m not a bad luck charm after all.)

The ‘Sters success came despite losing 10 players to the MLB draft, including Kansas State shortstop Dee Kennedy, who went to the St. Louis Cardinals fourth round, and the two UCSB pitchers, Calvin Proskey and A.J. Krodel, taken by the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets, respectively, in the 10th and 11th rounds. 

The Foresters are now on their way to the NBC (National Baseball Congress) World Series in Wichita, Kansas, for the 35th consecutive year facing teams in the tournament from many of the nation’s top summer leagues. The team has notched 10 championships in a span of 20 years, although there’s been a four-year drought. Pool play begins on July 23. 

“I think this team can win,” Pintard said on Sunday after the last game of the Foresters, who led the CCL in hitting, stolen bases, walks and other offensive categories. “(We’re a) little light on pitching (but) our offense is insane.”  

You can watch the NBC World Series live and free online streaming NBC World Series YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/@nbcws/streams).