Pirates Unable to Extend Season as They Fall in Playoffs

After closing the year on a magical run the Ventura College softball team hoped to have just a little bit of magic left to stave off elimination in the Southern California Regional Playoffs. Their match up with No. 2 ranked Santiago Canyon proved to be just to much for the Pirates to continue their season as they fell in two games in the best of three series. Ventura dropped the second game of the series 15-0 in five innings to conclude their season. Julia Garcia picked up another hit as did Julianne Abeloe. 

Following an undefeated second trip through Western State Conference play which brought the Pirates from fifth place to second place including a playoff clinching sweep of Cuesta on the final day of the season. Ventura was able to ride their momentum to a walk off win over Rio Hondo in the wild card portion of the So Cal Regional Playoffs, but Santiago Canyon who had defeated the Pirates twice during the regular season never allowed Ventura to get any traction in the series.

Needing a win to advance to the third game of the series, Ventura unfortunately were not able to stop the SCC offensive attack falling behind four runs after the first inning and Santiago Canyon added to their advantage in each of the next four innings to pick up the win in a run rule shortened game.

Olivia Hernandez who masterfully had pitched the Pirates into this portion of the postseason just did not have enough left in the tank to help VC continue their season. Her and Claira Lozano combined to throw the final five innings of the Pirate season with Hernandez taking the loss finishing with a 15-11 record on the season.

Abeloe and Garcia collected the lone two hits of the day for VC. Lindsey Dietz and Gabriella Ramos reached base via walks, but this was the extent of the offense the Pirates managed off the dominant SCC pitching staff.

Ventura finished the season with a 27-15 record and a 13-5 record in WSC play. The Pirates finished in second place behind Moorpark and earned their first berth in the postseason in three years.