VC Posts Two Big Wins Over Pierce

The Pirate baseball team posted back-to-back double-digit wins over Los Angeles Pierce this week, defeating the Brahmas 14-4 on Tuesday on the roads before belting their way to a 19-3 victory Thursday at Pirate Park. Mason Reid had five hits and four runs batted in over the two games while Reiss Calvin was 4-9 with six runs scored and four RBI. Hunter Jones pitched into the ninth inning for the victory on Tuesday and Cooper Smith threw into the eighth on Thursday for the "W" for the Pirates (13-20, 8-9).

Ventura got a steady start on Tuesday in Woodland Hills with single runs in the first, second and third frames. Calvin led off the game with a single, moved to second on a balk and advanced tho third on a wild pitch before scoring on Reid's ground ball out for the first score. Omar Santamaria got on base in the second on an error and eventually stole home for VC's 2-0 lead. Later, Connor Hickey singled to lead off the third, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a ground out before Haiden Letzing hit an RBI single.

The Pirates broke the game open with five runs in the fourth inning. Santamaria singled to lead things off and Gage Allen followed with a walk. Yuki Kawashima hit an RBI single and Calvin was intentionally walked on the next at bat to load the bases. Hickey then drew a walk to force Allen home and Reid hit a two-RBI single. One out later, Andrew Savage hit a sacrifice fly knocking in Hickey for the 8-0 Ventura advantage.

Calvin scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning while Allen walked and scored on an error in the seventh.

VC added a four-spot in the eighth to take a two touchdown lead. Letzing singled and Savage doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Caden Stillwell singled home a run and pinch hitter Carson Friesen reached base on a fielder's choice scoring another run. After Allen and Mitchell Collins each walked to load the diamond once again, Calvin grounded out to shortstop, knocking in another score. Matthew Beach then hit a pinch-hit RBI single for the 14-0 margin.

The Brahmas scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth, but Ventura still left with the double-digit win.

Jones pitched 8.2 innings and scattered five hits over the first eight frames. He gave up three runs in the ninth.

Santamaria and Letzing each had a pair of hits while Reid knocked in three runs and Hickey recorded two RBI. 

On Thursday, the Pirates posted an even bigger win over the Brahmas at Pirate Park.

VC scored twice in the first to continue their onslaught. Calvin was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Hickey singled.  On the play, Calvin was caught in a rundown between third and home and Hickey moved over to second. Reid followed with an RBI single, then came all the way around to score on an error on the center fielder for the 2-0 score.

The Pirates plated six more runs in the bottom of the third. Reid and Letzing led off with singles, and moved ahead 90 feet on Savage's fly out to right field. Stillwell followed with an RBI single and Santamaria was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Allen hit an RBI single and Kawashima reached base on a fielder's choices while knocking in a run. Calvin followed with an RBI double and Hickey singled for two more runs.

In the fourth, Stillwell was hit by a pitch and Santamaria walked before both came around to score when Kawashima reached base on an error for a 10-0 margin.

Savage grounded out in the fifth to score Hickey, who led off the frame with a HBP to stretch the lead to 11 runs.

Ventura added three more runs in the sixth after Pierce plated two scores in the top half of the inning. Santamaria walked and Kawashima doubled one out later. Santamaria scored on a wild pitch and Calvin hit an RBI single. Savage then hit a two-out RBI single for a 13-2 advantage.

The Pirates continued the season-best offensive explosion after the seventh inning stretch. Allen drew a one-out walk and Kawashima singled. Calvin then reached base on a fielder's choice before Beach tripled to knock in two runs. Reid then hit an RBI single, Letzing singled and Savage was hit by a pitch. Tanner Rowe then hit an RBI single to extend the lead to 18-2.

After a Brahma run in the top of the eighth, Calvin singled home Allen in the bottom half of the frame to set the final 19-3 margin.

Smith pitched 7.1 innings to pick up the victory, scattering eight hits and giving up three runs while striking out seven. Neal Brower and Wilson Spinks combined for the final five outs of the game on the mound.

Reid had four hits in the game with three runs scored and an RBI while Calvin was 3-5 with a double and a walk, three runs scored and three RBI. Hickey also banged out three hits with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Kawashima recorded two hits, including a double, with two runs and an RBI.

Ventura closes out the three-game set with Pierce on Saturday April 15 in Woodland Hills.