2026 Ventura College Softball Team News
The Ventura College Athletic Department capped its celebration of 100 years of competition with another top finish in the 2025-26 all-sports National Association of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Ron Case Cup standings. Pirate Athletics placed 23rd among California community college athletic departments. It is the 19th Top-25 finish for VC in the 27-year history of the award.
First-year Pirate pitcher Emma Estrella has been named to the 3CFCA All-State Team. The Fillmore High School product was also name dthe Western State COnference North Division Pitcher of the Year after overcoming early season injuries to lead VC to a perfect 12-0 conference mark and into the 3C2A Southern California Playoffs.
VC pitcher Emma Estrella was named the Western State Conference North Division Pitcher of the Year while Baylany Magana, Samantha Soto and Erika Sanchez all earned first team All-WSC honors in voting by the conference coaches. Pirate head coach Julia Tamai was voted the WSC North Coach of the Year after leading Ventura to its second straight conference crown with a 12-0 record, the program's first undefeated WSC season since 1981.
The VC softball team had its 2026 season come to an end Saturday with an 11-1 loss at Palomar in the first round of the 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs. The No. 18 Pirates dropped the best-of-three series to the No. 1-seeded Comets in two games. Aubrey Aguirre hit a home run in the bottom of the second inning for Ventura's lone run of the game.
The Pirate softball team battled No. 1-seeded Palomar Friday afternoon before giving up three runs in the bottom of the sixth in their 6-2 setback to the Comets in the first game of a best-of-three series. Zayra Landeros delivered two hits, including a two-RBI double and Sophia Valencia had a pair of hits and score a run. Emma Estrella held off Palmoar through five innings before giving up the three runs in the sixth.
The VC softball team broke open a 3-3 tie with a four-run sixth inning in their 9-3 playoff win at Orange Coast Tuesday afternoon. Sophia Valencia delivered a 2-run single in the game-winning rally and Zayra Landeros had three hits with two RBI while scoring two runs. Emma Estrella scattered four hits in the complete game win in the circle, allowing three runs, one earned while striking out four.
Fresh off their second straight Western State Conference North Division championship, the VC softball team is headed back to the post-season. The Pirates received the No. 18 seed in the 3C2A Southern California Playoffs and will travel to No. 15 Orange Coast on Tuesday Apr. 28 in a play-in game against the Pirates of the south.
Emma Estrella tossed a no-hitter Thursday afternoon for the Pirate softball team to highlight a memorable regular season finale at the VC Softball Complex. The Ventura pitcher struck out 10 and walked four in the complete game 4-0 victory over Allan Hancock, securing VC its first undefeated Western State Conference season since 1981. Baylany Magana had a pair of hits and scored a run with one run batted in as one of several key offensive players in the historic win.
The VC softball team grabbed the first lead Saturday, but Southwestern answered quickly and pulled away for a 9-2 victory over the Pirates in Chula Vista. Aubrey Aguirre smacked a two-run home run in the first inning to put Ventura on top, but the Pirate offense was limited to four hits the rest of the way.
Fresh off of clinching the Western State Conference title, the Pirate softball team began a playoff tune-up road trip with a double-header split at No. 7-ranked San Diego Mesa. VC dropped a heartbreaking 5-4 decision in the opener before defeating the Olympians 12-9 in the nightcap. Jayla Raya recorded five hits with four runs batted in and a run scored in the two games to lead the way.
For the first time in 21 years, the Ventura College softball team is back-to-back Western State Conference champions. The Pirates defeated Oxnard 12-4 Tuesday behind a 4-hit performance by Samantha Soto and six-plus strong innings from Emma Estrella in the circle. Jayla Raya contributed a double and a triple with two runs batted in and two runs scored helping VC to its repeat title.
The Ventura College softball team took a huge step toward repeating as Western State Conference North Division champion Tuesday with a 9-1, 6-inning triumph over second-place Moorpark at the VC Softball Complex. Emma Estrella threw a two-hitter from the circle, striking out five in the complete-game win. Erika Sanchez had a pair of hits, including a key triple, with three runs batted in and a run scored while Baylani Magana recorded two hits with a pair of runs scored.
The VC softball team controlled the game at Cuesta from the opening inning and never let the Cougars back in, rolling to a 9-1 victory in five innings Thursday in San Luis Obispo. Erika Sanchez doubled and homered, knocking in three runs and scoring another to lead the Pirates (17-16-1, 9-0) and Emma Estrella shut down Cuesta from the circle, allowing one run and striking out seven in the complete-game win.
In one of the longest games in VC softball history, a Pirate comeback fell short at Los Angeles Valley. The game began Feb. 17, but was suspended due to weather in the bottom of the third inning. Play resumed Friday with Ventura trailing 7-5. The Pirates outscored the Monarchs 3-2 in thre remaining innings Friday but the comeback fell short, 9-8. Paisley Magdaleno ended the game with four hits, one run batted in and a pair of runs scored while Aubrey Aguirre had three hits and two RBI.
The VC softball team broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the fifth inning and added an insurance run in the sixth Thursday afternoon to defeat Santa Barbara 5-2 at the VC Softball Complex. Samantha Soto had three hits with a run batted in and a run scored for the Pirates (16-15-1, 8-0) while Aubrey Aguirre knocked in a pair of runs with a first-inning double. Jayla Raya scored twice in the game for Ventura.
The Pirate softball team scored 12 runs in the first inning against Santa Monica Tuesday at the VC Softball Complex en route to a 19-2 win over the Corsairs. Samantha Soto and Isabella Padilla each recorded four runs batted in to lead the charge for Ventura as they remained undefeated in Western State Conference play. Layah Hicks and Jayla Raya each knocked in three runs.
