Pirates Split at No. 1 Cypress

BASEBALL:  The Pirate baseball team split a pair of games at preseason No. 1 Cypress College Friday and Saturday to close a three-game season-opening road swing. VC dropped a 5-0 decision on Friday before defeating the Chargers 10-5 on Saturday. Harrison Crawford had three hits in the two games, two for extra bases, and knocked in two runs while scoring another. Tyler Watson had a strong outing on the mound on Friday, despite the loss, and Shawn Domke picked up the victory Saturday for Ventura (2-1).

Ventura 0, Cypress 5, 1-31-14
The Pirates had a chance to score early after a lead off double by Crawford in the second inning. He was left stranded and the Pirate offense only mustered one other hit against the Chargers. They did manage a rally in the seventh inning, loading the bases with no outs and trailing by a 2-0 score, but were unable to cash in hitting into a 1-2-3 double play and flying out to right field to end the threat. The Chargers added to their lead to take the 5-0 decision over the Pirates.

Sophomore left hander Tyler Watson took the mound for his first collegiate start. Watson, who was an All-WSC, All-American, and All-Pacific Coast Association first basemen as a freshman will add pitching to his duties this season and his first trip to the mound produced an impressive outing. Watson took the loss (0-1) but not without catching the eye of the Major League scouts in the stands and college recruiters as he held the Chargers offense to one run on six hits over five innings. Twice he pitched out of jams to keep the Pirates in the game.

Ventura 10, Cypress 5, 2-1-14
The Pirates offense, which had been held to just 10 hits and four runs over the first two games of the season, came to life to back the pitching staff which had shown well to start the year. VC matched their season total of hits plus one, knocking out 11 hits on the game and producing 10 runs against the Chargers. Sophomore Shawn Domke, making his first collegiate start after working in relief for Moorpark in 2012, had a strong outing on the mound to pick up the victory.

Ventrua jumped out to a 5-2 lead, but the Chargers narrowed the gap to 5-4 after six innings. The Pirates offense rose to the challenge, scoring once in the seventh and four times in the eighth, leaving the bases loaded in the ninth.

Crawford lead the way with two hits, including a double, two RBI and a run scored. Garret Serino added two hits and a pair of RBI for his second multi-hit game in two collegiate starts. Scott Morton added a pair of safeties, including his first home run of the season, a blast to left center. Dylan Colman collected the first two hits of his collegiate career while scoring two runs in the game and Tim Ginther added a hit with 1 RBI, reaching base twice via HBP and scoring two runs. Watson collected his third double of the year and scored a run.

Domke took the mound and would hold the Chargers offense down for 6.1 innings, allowingfour runs and nine hits with four strike outs. He exited the game with a 5-4 lead and the Pirates relievers made it hold up.

The Pirates will host the Cerritos College Falcons on Tuesday February 4 in a 2:00 pm contest at the Ventura College Baseball Complex to begin their home schedule for the 2014 season.