The Pirate softball team opened the 2019 campaign with a pair of mercy-rule wins Friday at the Dave "Hawk" Wilder Memorial Tournament in Glendale. Ventura defeated Golden West 18-0 in the opener before coming back with a 13-1 triumph over Barstow in game two of the day. Kayla Garcia pitched six shutout innings with nine strikeouts while yielding four hits. Adriana Clemons and Marisa Felix hit home runs for the Pirates (2-0) and Kaylee Neal had five hits on the day.
Ventura 18, Golden West 0
The Pirates topped a five-run first inning with 11 runs in the second in claiming the 2019 season opener in abbreviated fashion. Garcia threw four scoreless innings allowing two hits while striking out six. Clemons was 3-4 with a double and a home run with four runs batted in while Felix was 3-4 with a triple and a home run. Cassidy Craig and Jessica Mendoza each knocked in three runs and Neal was 2-3 with an RBI.
Ventura 13, Barstow 1
VC won its second game of the day against the Vikings, also in a mercy-ruled five innings. Garcia picked up the victory in the circle with three innings of work allowing two hits with three punch-outs. Mendoza pitched a pair of frames with a strikeout and two hits. Garcia was 3-3 with a double and four RBI while Neal was 3-3. Craig also recorded three runs batted in for Ventura.
The Pirates wrap up the tournament in Glendale on Saturday Jan. 26 with games against Mt. San Jacinto and San Diego Mesa.