Ventura Baseball Captures high-Scoring Affair at LA Mission

The VC baseball team survived a high-scoring game at Los Angeles Mission in Sylmar Tuesday, prevailing with a 22-17 victory over the hosts. Yuki Kawashima had Ventura's only extra base hit, an RBI triple in the second inning, while Mason Reid and Haiden Letzing each produced three hits and four runs batted in. Domingo Gaxiola came in out of the bullpen to settle the Pirates' pitching, throwing 5.1 innings while scattering six hits and allowing two runs, one earned, with four strikeouts.

The Pirates (5-3) had 12 hits, 11 singles and Kawashima's triple, and drew 14 walks against LA Mission pitching. The Eagles also committed three errors in the game in allowing 22 VC runs, 21 earned.

Mason Reid put the Pirates ahead 1-0 in the top of the first with an RBI single that scored Dylan Jackson, who had reached base on a 2-out error.

The Eagles answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame for a 3-1 Mission lead.

Ventura continued the offense with three runs in the second column. Letzing reached first after being hit by a pitch to lead off and Bryce Elias walked with Letzing moving to third, then home on a pair of wild pitches. Kawashima then hit his RBI triple and scored when Jacob Tostado grounded out.

The Pirates' big inning came in the top of the third when they sent 13 batters to the plate, scoring eight runs on just three hits. Letzing knocked in two runs with a single as did Reid. Brandon Contreras also had an RBI single and Tostado hit a sacrifice fly. Jackson walked in a run for the Pirates, who led 12-3 at the end of the rally.

After allowing three runs by the Eagles in the bottom of the third, Ventura scored twice in the top of the fourth. Contreras hit an RBI single scoring Evan DeVally and Kawashima scored on a wild pitch.

Mission exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 15-14 lead. Gaxiola came on to pitch at the end of the inning, allowing two inherited runners to score before settling in and retiring the side. 

VC retook the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Letzing scored when Elias reached base on an error, then Elias scored when Henry Borjas reached base after bring hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Continuing the roller coaster ride, the Eagles scored once in the bottom half of the sixth to tie the game at 16.

David King delivered a 2-RBI single for Ventura in the seventh inning, followed by an RBI single by Reid. Elias also reached base on a fielder's choice scoring King for the 20-16 margin.

Letzing hit another 2-RBI single in the ninth to score a pair of insurance runs for VC.

Borjas was 1-2 with two walks and four runs scored with an RBI while Contreras filled the state sheet with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Elias scored three times as did Kawashima.

The Pirates will next host Riverside on Thursday Feb. 15. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm at Pirate Park.