JC baseball can be a roller coaster ride, and the Pirates found out first hand on Saturday afternoon at Antelope Valley. After spotting the Marauders an 8-0 lead through five innings, VC scored 11 over the to of the next two frames, only to see AVC plate 12 runs over the final four innings in Ventura's 20-11 loss. Bryce Elias hit a 2-run homer and Henry Borjas had three runs batted in and a run scored in the setback.
The Pirates were not sharp in the early going, yielding eight runs over the first four innings. After a scoreless fifth, Ventura got back into the game in a big way with a five-spot on the scoreboard.
After Evan DeVally walked to lead off the at-bat, Elias followed with his 2-run bomb. Ben Drumheller, Mitchell Collins and Yuki Kawashima all earned bases on balls to load the diamond before Borjas cleared the bases with a 3-RBI double. Ventura was able to load the bases again with one out, but were unable to add to their five-run inning.
Unfortunately, Antelope Valley nearly answered the Pirates run-for-run with four scores in the bottom of the sixth before VC added six runs in the top of the seventh.
Drumheller, Collins and Borjas all walked before a Marauder pitching change. Dylan Jackson then walked home a run, as did AJ Herrera. Haiden Letzing followed with an RBI single, and Aaron McLeod walked home another score. Elias reached on a fielder's choice to score Herrera before pulling off a double-steal with Letzing to score another run. VC trailed 12-11 heading to the bottom of the seventh.
Unfortunately, Antelope Valley's offense kept churning out runs as they scored eight more times in their final two at-bats to set the 20-11 final margin.
Elias finished the game with three RBI and Drumheller and Collins each scored two runs.
Ventura is set to host the Marauders to end their two-game set on Tuesday Feb. 6, weather permitting.