VC Clinches Back-to-Back WSC Crowns

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.

Oxnard struck first with three runs in the opening inning, putting Ventura in an early hole. The Pirates began to chip away in the second with a run, then moved in front with three more in the third to take a 4-3 lead. The Condors answered with a run in the fourth to even the score, but VC controlled the late innings from there. The Pirates finished with 12 runs on 13 hits, taking advantage of 10 OC errors.

The sixth inning provided the turning point. Ventura sent six runs across to turn a tied game into a 10-4 advantage, then tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh. Soto led the offense with a 4-for-5 day, scoring three runs and driving in one. Raya added two hits in five at-bats, scored twice, drove in two runs and delivered a triple as Ventura's lineup kept pressure on Oxnard throughout the afternoon.

In the circle, VC settled in after the rough start. Baylany Magana recorded the first two outs before Emma Estrella took over and delivered 6 1/3 strong innings in relief. Estrella allowed two hits and one earned run, walked three and struck out 10, helping limit the Condors to four hits over the full game. 

Magana had two hits and scored three runs while Erika Sanchez recorded a single and a double with two RBI and a run scored. Zayra Landeros and Sophia Valencia also knocked in a pair of runs each. 

Ventura (19-16, 11-0) repeats as the WSC North Division champion, both under second-year head coach Julia Tamai. It is the program's 14th conference title and the first back-to-back championships since 2004 and 2005. The Pirates were repeat champions in 1981 and 1982 and won three straight in 2000-2002. VC also claimed WSC crowns in 2007, 2010, 2017, and 2023.

VC next travels to San Diego Mesa on Friday Apr. 17 for a double-header, and will play at Southwestern on Saturday, Apr. 18. The Pirates close the regular season on Tuesday Apr. 21 at home against Allan Hancock. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.