Espitia Makes Pitch to Settle Ventura Staff in Beating Moorpark

Ventura College has been touted as having one of the best pitching staffs in the Western State Conference--an opinion that Coach Gary Anglin does not share lately.

“Right now, we’re pitching just a grade above high school level,” Anglin said.

Anglin leveled his criticism after sophomore right-hander Shane Espitia pitched a six-hitter Friday as the Pirates defeated Moorpark, 4-1, at Buena High to forge a tie for third place in the Channel Coast baseball tournament.

Despite Espitia’s complete-game victory, Anglin said the Pirate staff must improve if Ventura is going to contend for its first WSC title in 15 years.

“We have major concerns with our pitching staff,” Anglin said. “We need to determine who is going to be our closer and who our starters are.”

Moorpark (16-9), which finished in a tie for fifth place in the double-elimination tournament, also needs to bolster its pitching staff. Coach Ron Stillwell, who is looking to add a starting pitcher to his staff, pulled right-hander John Chiaramonte in favor of left-hander Mike Chase after five innings, even though Chiaramonte wasn’t struggling.

“We’ve got to give some other guys some work to see if we can get another starter,” Stillwell said.

Chiaramonte (3-1) gave up two hits and two runs and wound up with the loss. Chase also gave up two hits and two runs.

Moorpark took its only lead when Dan Smith scored on a wild pitch in the first inning. Smith singled to right, advanced to third on Darin Furlong’s ground-rule double to right field and scored on Espitia’s pitch in the dirt.

Ventura (17-7) tied the score in the first on three walks and Mike Teron’s sacrifice fly to center.

Gabe Diaz homered to center in the third and Brent Cookson hit a home run to center in the sixth to give the Pirates a 3-1 lead.

Ventura took advantage of Chase’s wildness to score another run in the eighth. Diaz and Spencer walked and advanced on Darren Lloyd’s sacrifice bunt before Diaz scored on Cookson’s fly to right.

Espitia worked out of trouble in the sixth after Steve Sisco, who went hitless Thursday to end his 20-game hitting streak, doubled to center and Kris Kaelin walked. The Raiders failed to score, however, when Loyd Wood grounded out to end the rally.