VC Baseball Earns Strong Considerations for All-WSC

The Pirate baseball team had five players earn first-team All-Western State Conference North Division honors in voting by the conference coaches earlier this month. The list was headlined by sophomores Blake Chiaramonte, Kaden Betsch and Justin Friedman along with freshmen Elijah Alexander and Rodolfo Aguilar. Additionally, retiring head coach Don Adams was selected as the Co-Coach of the Year.

Friedman received strong consideration for Pitcher of the Year with an overall record of 8-2 in earning his first-team nod, while third baseman Chiaramonte led the team in home runs and tied for the team lead in RBI with first baseman Betsch. Aguilar combined solid offensive and defensive numbers from his shortstop position and Alexander led the team with a .350 batting average.

Adams finished his 23rd season as head coach and his 40th year in the program as a palyer, assistant coach, or head coach. He announced his retirement from coaching at the end of the season.

A trio of sophomores also earned second-team All-WSC accolades, including starting pitcher Dylan Francis, left fielder Chris McKee and utility player Taylor Campos.

Relief pitchers Jackson Hickert and Andrew Nardi, along with second baseman Brendan Griffith all were named honorable mention all-conference.

Griffith also won the WSC Gold Glove as the best defensive second baseman in the conference.

Ventura finished the 2017 season with a 20-20 overall record, 10-10 in WSC play, tying for third place in the conference.