Bucs Fall to Old Friends in International Exhibition

Bucs outfielder Noah Nichols slides in safely to second base in an exhibition game against the Philippines National Team at LA Valley College June 28, 2022. Photo by Maddy Whiting

The SBL Bucs (7-4, 7-2) suffered a frustrating 7-3 loss to the Philippines National Team in a non-league game Monday afternoon at Los Angeles Valley College.

The Philippines National Team featured former longtime Ventura County Pirate Kyle Soberano, and former Bucs Mitch Kurtz and Jackson Briscoe, who started on the mound got the win for the Philippines.

The Bucs took an early lead in the first off of a Jack Bickerton RBI double that put them up 1-0. The Bucs would allow 4 runs in the second inning, however, off of 3 hits, and fall behind 4-1.

After the Philippines added another run in the 5th to make it 5-1, the Bucs answered in the bottom half of the 5th inning with a Trent Turquand two-run single to cut the lead down to 5-3. The Philippines national team would put the game away for good, however, in the 7th inning, with a two run home run that stretched the lead back up to 7-3.

The Bucs tallied 12 total hits despite only scoring 3 runs total, and frequently failed to capitalize in situations with runners on base and in scoring position.

“When we have runners in scoring position, we need to string the hits together at that point,” Head Coach Evan O’Meara said. “Doesn’t matter if you have 19 hits and only score two runs and the other team scores seven.”

The Bucs will look to bounce back from a tough loss when they head on the road to take on the SoCal Quakes tomorrow afternoon at 4pm in Fullerton, California.