Bucs Withstand Sliders' Late Rally, Win SBL Home Opener

Photo by Peter Gastis

VALLEY GLEN - The Ventura County Buccaneers stormed out of the gate, opening up their 2021 Sunset League season with eleven runs in the first four innings of play. The visiting South Bay Sliders mounted a comeback in the final four frames, including four runs in the ninth inning with two out, but their ten runs weren't enough to spoil the Bucs' long-awaited return to the LA Valley College baseball field.

Shaun Montoya led the team offensively in the batting order and on the score sheet, going 5-for-5 and belting two doubles, two triples, driving in six Buccaneer runs and scoring four of his own. Kenny Kim also contributed with a two-run homer in a seven-run second inning, and six other Bucs were in the Runs column.

Starter Joshua Perez and winning pitcher Kai Purdy-Burton combined for just two hits and seven strikeouts in their five innings of work.

It was also the first Sunset League win for coaches Evan O'Meara and Bobby Livingston. The duo coached the 2019 VC Bucs of the Golden Coast Collegiate League, and were moved up into the Sunset League due to the Ventura County Baseball Club expanding to three teams in 2021.

The Bucs face the Long Beach Legends in a non-league tilt this Saturday at 4 pm, again at LAVC.