On a perfect day for baseball, the Pirates opened their 2024 season with a hard-fought 10-8 setback against San Joaquin Delta College at Pirate Park. Brandon Contreras made his debut in orange and black with a pair of hits, including a solo home run, and two runs batted in and freshman Henry Borjas recorded two hits with an RBI and a run scored. Sophomores Haiden Letzing and Yuki Kawashima each scored two runs for Ventura (0-1) in the debut of new head coach David Soliz.
After VC yielded a solo home run in the top of the first, Kawashima single-handedly evened the game. He drew a 1-out walk, stole second, moved to third on an error and scored on another error, all in the next at-bat.
The Mustangs countered with a pair of runs in the top of the second, but Ventura was able to keep right up with Northern California's No. 2-ranked team. Letzing led off with a hit by pitch and moved to second on Bryce Elias' ground ball to third. Caden Stillwell moved Letzing to third on a fly ball to center before Borjas hit an RBI single. Borjas then moved across the diamond on a pair of wild pitches before scoring when Jacob Tostado reached base on an error.
Ventura took their first lead of the new season in the bottom of the third inning. Kawashima walked, and one out later stole second. Mason Reid belted out an RBI single and moved to scoring position on Letzing's single.Elias' fly out to center moved Reid to third before he scored when Stillwell reached base on an error.
The Pirate lead was short lived, unfortunately, as Delta scored four runs in the top of the fourth before Contreras hit his 1-out solo home run in the bottom half of the frame.
Both pitching staffs settled in for the next few innings before the Mustangs plated another three runs in the top of the eighth.
Letzing opened the bottom of the eight with another hit by pitch and moved to third on Elias' single. Stillwell knocked in Letzing with a sacrifice fly and Borjas followed with a single, moving Elias ahead 90 feet. Aaron McLeod drew a pinch hit walk to load the bases and Contreras kept the heat on with an RBI single. Ventura was unable to capitalize further, however, and still trailed 10-8 headed to the final frame.
Luca Staiano pitched into the fourth inning in the start for VC and Domingo Gaxiola picked up the loss in his 3.1 innings of relief work. Nolan Moreau and Derrick Betancourt also saw duty on the hill for the Pirates.
The teams return to Pirate Park on Saturday Dec. 27 for a double-header beginning at 10:00 am.