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— GLENDALE — With the tying run on third, Ventura County Buccaneers' pitcher Jacob Mark flung his right arm over his shoulder and painted the bottom of the zone for the final out of the Bucs' 3-2 win over the CV Falcons at Stengel Field Sunday.
The win completes a home-and-home sweep of the Falcons. With the victory, the bullpen also proved it can manage tight games. Ventura County used seven different pitchers and did not stretch any of them beyond two innings of work.
After starter Carson Cox allowed a run in the second inning, RHP Austin Kelly survived an error behind him and stranded a runner at third without allowing a hit in the third inning. Colby Larin breezed through the fourth but hit the leadoff batter in the fifth. However, he needed just 10 pitches to retire the next three batters in order and earned the win.
The Relief demonstrated an ability to pitch out of trouble throughout the game. Trevor Shenefield allowed a runner on third with one out in the sixth. He then bounced back from a 2-0 count to strikeout the next batter before ending the threat by inducing a fly ball to center.
Mark should have had a clean start to the ninth, but an error allowed the lead off runner aboard. However, he pitched around the trouble in the most high leverage inning for either side in the game.
The Bucs' scored all three of their runs in the sixth and did so with productive outs. shortstop Max Blessenger grounded out for the 2-0 run and third baseman Brock Bell followed him with a sacrifice fly for what would become the winning run.
Catcher Manuel Munoz slashed singles in the second and fourth innings going two-for-four on the day and two-for-five in the series.
The Buccaneers have two days off before facing the Eagles 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 26 in Sylmar.