Ventura Loses Late Lead, Any Hope of Advancing

Ventura College pitcher Andy Moffat called it “the worst possible thing” he could have done.

With the visiting Pirates clinging to a one-run lead over Cerritos in the eighth inning of a Southern California junior college regional Saturday, Moffat hit the leadoff batter.

It was one of several mistakes that helped Cerritos post a 5-4 victory that ended the season for Ventura (24-15). The Pirates lost Friday and needed two victories Saturday to win the best-of-three series. Cerritos (28-8-1) advances to the regional finals beginning Friday.

“Everyone on this team believed we could win two games today,” shortstop Kwinn Knight said. “And it looked good most of the game.”

With Ventura leading, 3-2, Moffat opened the eighth by hitting Eric Martins. Martins made his way to third after a passed ball and groundout, then scored the tying run on Rob Matos’ single.

Matos then stole second and advanced to third when catcher Mitch King’s throw bounced into center field. Moffat intentionally walked Adam Millan before giving way to Jason Isaacs. After a failed squeeze attempt left runners at first and second with two out, Tony Miranda hit a two-run double that gave Cerritos a 5-3 lead.

After a three-run second inning, the Pirates were retired in order four times and had only two hits through the next six innings. However, they threatened in the ninth.

Ryan McMullen hit a two-out single that drove in Tim Cornish, who had reached on a fielder’s choice. But leadoff batter Kasha Clemons struck out looking.

“It was a fun season,” Ventura Coach Gary Anglin said. “We went further than anyone would have anticipated.”

The Pirates might have extended their season had they not allowed a pair of unearned runs in the first.

With Bryce Christensen at second base and one out, Matos grounded to third, but Chris Marsden’s throw skipped past first baseman Carlos Rios. As the ball skidded into foul territory, Christensen scored and Matos raced to third. Matos scored on a sacrifice fly by Millan, who hit two home runs in Cerritos’ 9-5 win Friday.

Ventura manufactured three runs in the second facing Bobby Post. After the Pirates loaded the bases, Chris Bargsten scored on a walk. Rios and Steve Philbrook both scored on groundouts.

Moffat (6-3) had a five-hitter through seven innings and seemed in control. Anglin probably was planning for a doubleheader after Moffat took a lead into the eighth.

“He mixes pitches well and I had confidence with him pitching the eighth,” Anglin said. “One of the things that hurts is that we haven’t lost a lot of games in the late innings, and here our season ends because we lost a game in the eighth. Being a sophomore-dominated team, we’ve felt like we own the seventh, eighth and ninth.”