Baseball Makes Another Late Charge

The VC baseball team made a late charge for he second straight day, but cam up a run short Thursday, falling at Mt. San Jacinto 6-5. The Pirates came back from a 4-1 deficit after five innings, and had the game-tying run on third base when the side was retired in the top of the ninth. Yuki Kawashima had an RBI triple in the ninth inning and scored a run earlier in the game while Haiden Letzing had a hit with two runs scored. Reiss Calvin and Connor Hickey also recorded a hit and a run scored in the game.

MSJC got off to a quick start with a three-run first inning.

Ventura came back with a score in the top of the second inning. Letzing reached first on an error to lead off and advanced to second. Andrew Savage moved the runner along with a ground ball out to the right side before Caden Stillwell knocked in the run with a 6-3 putout.

The Eagles then scored once in the third and again in the fourth for a 5-1 advantage midway through the game.

The Pirates showed signs of life in the top of the sixth inning. Calvin led off with a triple and Kawashima followed with a walk. Omar Santamaria hit a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to center before Letzing singled. Savage then a walked to load the bases before Stillwell hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Kawashima. Matthew Beach hit a pinch-hit RBI single to close the Pirates' deficit to 5-4.

Mt. San Jacinto then scored an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh for a 6-4 lead.

Hickey hit a one-out single in the ninth inning and, one out later, Kawashima delivered an RBI triple to pull VC to within 6-5. Unfortunately, Ventura could not get Kawashima home from third and the game ended in a 6-5 setback for the Pirates.

Logan Knight made the start on the hill for VC, pitching three innings before Jared Hughes threw the next three frames. Wilson Spinks and Livio Bundi each pitched an inning in the game.

After a weekend off, the Pirates resume Western State Conference play Tuesday April 11 at Los Angeles Pierce College.