The VC baseball team had an easy time with Los Angeles Pierce Tuesday at Pirate Park, defeating the Brahmas 12-1. Luca Staiano gave up one unearned run through six complete innings on the mound to pick up the win while Harrison Cordeiro and Jathan Magana combined for three frames of shutout ball. Jacob Tostado had two hits, including a double, with three runs batted in and David King knocked in a pair of runs for the Pirates (14-14, 6-9).
The Pirates got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when Haiden Letzing hit a two-out double to score Yuki Kawashima, who had drawn a two-out walk.
VC then broke the game open with a four-run fourth. Peter Dufau singled to lead off and Aaron McLeod walked. One out later Mason Reid drew a base on balls to load the diamond. After the second out, Tostado cleared the bases with a three-RBI double before scoring on Kawashima's RBI single for the 5-0 edge.
After the Brahmas scored an unearned run in the fifth, Ventura plated four more scores after the seventh-inning stretch. Kawashima walked and moved to second on a wild pitch before Letzing's single moved him to third. Jackson followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to score Kawashima before Letzing moved to scoring position on another wild pitch. Following the second out of the frame, McLeod hit an RBI single and King reached base on an error that scored McLeod. Reid then reached base on another error on which King scored for the 9-1 Pirate lead.
Ventura added three runs in the bottom of the eighth for good measure. Tostado led off with a single and Letzing reached base on an error one out later. Evan DeVally pinch hit into a fielder's choice, forcing Tostado out a third before Ben Drumheller drew a walk to load the bases. Henry Borjas was hit by a pitch, forcing Letzing home and King knocked in a pair of runs with a single to set the final margin.
VC will continue the three-game set with the Brahmas on Thursday April 11 in Woodland Hills.