Estrella's No-hitter Highlights Memorable Regular Season Finale

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 decisive stretch came in the middle innings, when the Pirates scored once in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth to steadily build control. Ventura finished with nine hits in the game and took advantage of consistent pressure at the plate while Estrella handled the rest in the circle. 

Magana helped pace the Ventura offense, going 2 for 3 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base. Layah Hicks added a strong day at the plate as well, finishing 2 for 3 with an RBI and a double. Samantha Soto contributed one hit, one RBI and a sacrifice as the Pirates turned a tight game into a comfortable lead one inning at a time.

Ventura's first run arrived in the third inning for a 1-0 edge, and the Pirates kept adding on in measured fashion. Another run in the fourth made it 2-0, a fifth-inning score pushed the lead to 3-0, and Ventura plated its final run in the sixth. 

The Pirates also backed Estrella with steady defense. Both teams committed one error, but Allan Hancock could not generate the hit that might have changed the game. The Bulldogs were held to no runs, no hits and left five runners on base, while Ventura stranded six.

Estrella closed out the shutout in the seventh, retiring the side to finish Ventura's 4-0 win before a large home crowd. The game marked the regular season finale for the Pirates who finished the season with an overall mark of 21-18 and a perfect 12-0 WSC record. Ventura won back-to-back conference titles for the first time since 2004 and 2005, and completed a perfect WSC slate for the first time in 45 years.

VC, who began the season dropping 14 of its first 17 games before winning 18 of its final 22 contests, awaits its playoff seeding. The opening round of the 3C2A Southern California Regionals will be on Tuesday Apr. 28.