BASEBALL: The Ventura College baseball team opened the 2014 season with a victory Thursday, 4-1 at San Diego Mesa College. Tyler Watson was 2-4, including a double, with a run scored and Garrett Serino also had a pair of safeties. Tim Ginther and Harrison Crawford each knocked in runs for the Pirates (1-0) while Eusebio Navarro pitched seven string innings to pick up the win. Steven Martinez threw two scoreless innings to complete the game.
After giving up a home run in the bottom of the first inning, VC settled in and kept the Olympians at bay the rest of the game. In the top of the third inning, Dylan Coleman reached base on a one-out error. Bradley Fullerton followed with a shot to third base that resulted in a throwing error at second, allowing Coleman to come around and score. Fullerton advanced to second on the play and went to third on a throwing error by the pitcher. Ginther followed with a 4-3 ground out, allowing Fullerton to cross the plate putting VC ahead 2-1. Watson followed with a double and he came home on Crawford's single down the left field line. VC led 3-1 after the inning. The Pirates added insurance in the top of the ninth when David Newland scored on another Mesa throwing error.
Ventura travels to No. 1-ranked Cypress for a two-game set beginning on Friday Jan. 31. The first game begins at 2:00 pm and the series with the Chargers will wrap up at 12:00 pm on Saturday Feb. 1.