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The Ventura County Bucs (7-4-1, 3-4-1 Golden Coast Collegiate League) flexed their depth in a come-from-behind 8-4 victory over the LA Mission Eagles at Pote Field in Griffith Park Wednesday.
“We did more and we did it better today,” Bucs Head Coach Spiro Psaltis said.
Ventura found key contributions in unlikely places in the non-league matchup against the Eagles. First baseman Hunter Zanki reached base twice and singled in the tying run in the fifth inning after drawing the defense in showing bunt on the previous pitch.
Right Fielder Dustin Wilson was a late addition to the starting lineup, and the move paid off for Ventura County. Wilson turned in his first 3-hit game of the season, including an RBI single in the seventh inning.
“He was due,” Psaltis said. “His dedication, his contribution, and his involvement at the plate had not been rewarded yet.”
All told, six different players had at least one hit for the Bucs, five earned an RBI, and six scored at least one run.
On the mound, Steven Gonzalez (3-0), who has settled into a middle-inning relief role of late, earned his team-leading third win of the season. Ryan Fernandez and Ethan Foley each pitched two innings without allowing a run while late-reliever Ethan Hamburg hurled a solid bounce-back outing, allowing no runs in the ninth.
The Bucs will continue the homestand with a rivalry matchup with the California Hitmen, who swept Ventura in a recent doubleheader, this weekend. Game one is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Friday, July 2nd at Pote Field.
“We need to atone for the way we played a week ago,” Psaltis said. “We get a chance to come right back at them.”