Baseball Announces 13 Transfers from WSC Champions

Coming off the historic 2019 season in which the the Pirates claimed their first Western State Conference North Division title in 13 seasons, and in which VC hosted a regional playoff series for the first time in program history, the Ventura College baseball program is proud to announce that 13 Pirates will move on to play at the four-year level in 2020.  Five student athletes will compete at the NCAA Division I level, five will transfer to NCAA Division II, two will play NCAA Division III baseball and one will transfer to an NAIA school.

The Pirates had 17 sophomores on the roster in 2019, and 12 of them will transfer to play baseball while one is matriculating to a four-year university academically. Three are returning to VC to complete their academic work before transferring and one is undecided on his future academic plans.

Over the past four years, 46 Pirates have moved on to continue their baseball and academic careers at the four-year level, including 13 to NCAA Division I and 17 to NCAA Division II.

2019 VC Baseball Transfers

Ethan Balolong-Reyes (Buena HS), OF, California Lutheran University (NCAA Division III)
Named second-team All-WSC North in 2019.  One of the best right fielders in the past five years for the Pirates.

Zane Chittenden (Buena HS), RHP/DH, Sonoma State University  (NCAA Div. II)
Earned second-team All-WSC North award in 2019 while batting clean-up all year. Led VC in runs batted in. Also the No. 3 starter on the mound.

Brent Dickey (St. Bonaventure HS), RHP, Rogers State University (OK) (NCAA Division II)
Was a big contributor out of the bullpen for the Pirates in his career.  Had over 20 appearances in his late inning role form 2017-2019

TJ Foreman (Moorpark HS), OF, Austin Peay University (TN) (NCAA Division I)
Twice earned All-WSC North honors in the outfield and won two WSC Gold Glove awards. Named ABCA Division Gold Glove Outfielder in 2019, just the second Pirate to earn the award, and earned All-Southern California accolades in 2019.

Jackson Hickert (Newbury Park HS), HP, University of Akron (NCAA Division I)
Named All-WSC North in 2017 and 2019.  Was the first pitcher in school history to win a regional game with a complete game shut-out against Long Beach on May 4, 2019.
See story on Akron baseball website...

Tommy Jamieson (Bakersfield Christian HS), RHP, Pacific University  (OR) (NCAA Division III)
A right handed reliever out of Bakersfield, helped the Pirates with key outings over his two-year career.

Ryker Kennepohl (Buena HS), LHP, Upper Iowa University (NCAA Division II)
Saw time as a starter and reliever in his two years. Helped shut down Moorpark in 2018 with a 6-inning performance, holding the Raiders to just two runs.

Steele Ledford (Thousand Oaks HS), CF, UC-Santa Barbara (NCAA Division I)
Was an All-WSC North and Gold Glove winner as a freshmen in 2018 before injuries sidelined him for the 2019 campaign. 

AJ Medrano (Surprise, AZ; Valley Vista HS), 2B, Wagner College (NY) (NCAA Division I)
Was a two-year starter at Ventura College. Named second-team All-WSC North in 2019.

Conor Mormon (Las Vegas, NV; Arbor View HS), C, University of Jamestown (ND) (NAIA)
The only redshirt-freshman transferring after two years at Ventura College. Saw action as a starter and a late inning replacement for the Pirates this past season.

Junior Sandoval (Moorpark HS), 1B, Chico State University (NCAA Division II)
Was a second-team All-WSC North player in 2019, a mainstay in the middle of the lineup for the Pirates.

Jeff Thoben (Camarillo HS), RHP, University of Texas-Permian Basin (NCAA Division II)
In two years, amassed 40 appearances during the 7th, 8th or 9th innings.  A key to the success of the Pirates during his two-year career. 

Travis Weston (Moorpark HS), LHP, Boise State University (ID) (NCAA Division I)
Named first-team All-WSC North while leading the team in wins in 2019.
See story on Boise State baseball website...