The Pirate softball team completed a remarkable turnaround from a year ago and captured the Western State Conference North Division championship with a 7-3 victory at Hancock Tuesday. Ventura, who posted a 7-26 record a year ago and 5-9 mark in WSC play, completed the regular season at 26-8 and 12-2, respectively, to win the 13th WSC title in program history dating back to 1981.
Sophomore Savanna Higgins led the effort on offense with a pair of hits, including a 2-RBI double in the decisive sixth inning and a triple. She had three Runs batted in on the day and scored once. Sophomore Jennie Jacinto had three hits, two doubles, with three runs scored, and Dakota Moore also knocked in three runs. Baylany Magana went the distance in the circle, limiting the Bulldogs to three hits and three runs, two earned, while striking out five.
Hancock scored first with a run in the bottom of the second inning. VC had an answer, however, with two in the top of the third.
Jacinto started the Pirate rally with a two-out double. Higgins hit an RBI triple, then scored on a wild pitch to put Ventura ahead 2-1.
VC extended the lead in the top of the fourth when Alyssa Castaneda and Dakota Moore put together back-to-back doubles.
The Bulldogs scored once in the bottom of the fourth, but were answered by the Pirates in the next at-bat.
Jacinto led off the top of the fifth with a double, and one our later Madison Shay walked. An error on the catcher the moved Shay ahead one base and allowed Jacinto to score from second.
Hancock managed another single run in the bottom of the fifth, but Ventura created some breathing room in a decisive three-run sixth.
Erika Sanchez doubled to lead off the frame and moved to third on a wild pitch. Castaneda walked and stole second before Moore hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Sanchez. One out later Jacinto walked to load the bases and Higgins popped the clutch two-out, two-run double to set the final margin.
Ba. Magana retired the final seven batters she faced to lock up the win and the conference title.
The Pirates will now await their playoff match-up. The 3C2A Southern california Regionals will be a best-of-three series with Game 1 on Friday May 2 and the second and third games, if necessary, on Saturday May 3.