The Virginia Peninsula Community College baseball team swept a doubleheader from Monroe College of the Bronx on Sunday, Feb. 18, to run its winning streak to three games. The previous day, the Gators lost 19-15 to Owens Community College before defeating Monroe 13-6.
In Saturday’s first game, Caleb Gonzales led the Gators’ offense, going 3 for 3 with a pair of two-run doubles. Jayden Alvarez had three hits and four RBIs, Austin Smith two hits and three RBIs, and Isaiah Bracy chipped in with two hits, both doubles.
The Gators (4-6) had a seven-run first inning and a five-run sixth, but Owens scored multiple runs in five of its seven innings, including a five-run inning and three four-run innings.
In the second game Saturday, the Gators won 13-6, breaking open a close game with a five-run fourth. After the visitors trimmed a seven-run deficit to 9-6, the Gators iced the game with a four-run sixth inning. No one had more than one hit for the Gators, but Alvarez and Neo Klemish had two RBIs each. The Gators also took advantage of 13 walks and two errors by Monroe. Liam Nugent got the win, going four innings and giving up just two hits and two runs. He struck out six and walked seven.
On Sunday, the Gators won the first game against Monroe College 15-1, limiting the Express to one hit. Brandon Drewry went five innings, giving up one hit, to earn the victory for the Gators. He struck out 10 and walked just one. Aiden Knoop and Devin Romero each went one inning and gave up no hits. Israel Dozier two hits, including a double, and drove in three runs. Marco Fernandez added two hits, both doubles; Alvarez had two hits, including a double; and Grant Adkins added a pair of singles. The Gators drew 11 walks and committed five errors.
The Gators capped off the weekend with a 6-5 win when Alvarez drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the sixth for the winning run. The Gators trailed 5-3 after 4½ innings but scored once in the fifth and twice in the sixth for the victory.
Brendan Walker was the only player for the Gators with two hits, including a double. Garett Hedgepeth got the win, with Blake Witt earning the save. Hedgepeth went 1 1/3 innings and gave no runs and no hits. He struck out three. Witt pitched a scoreless seventh and allowed no hits.
Men’s basketball
The Virginia Peninsula Community College men’s basketball team (7-13) ended the regular-season portion of its schedule with two losses last week. The first was at home to Paul D. Camp on Wednesday, Feb. 14, and the second at Patrick & Henry three days later.
Against Patrick & Henry, the Gators trailed 42-40 at halftime, but were outscored 45-16 in the second half.
Next up is the New South Athletic Conference/Region X tournament Feb. 25-28 at Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, N.C. The Gators earned the fifth seed and will take on No. 4 Mountain Gateway at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23. The teams met once in the regular season, with the Gators prevailing 88-80 in a game played at Christopher Newport University.
The semifinals are Feb. 24 and the final Feb. 25.
Women’s basketball
The women were on a three-game winning streak, but lost 72-49 at The Apprentice School on Tuesday, Feb. 13.
The Gators (5-5) scored the first six points of the game but found themselves down 28-24 at halftime. They were outscored 23-13 in the third quarter and 21-12 in the fourth.
Three Gators had double-doubles: Ciera Bell (12 points and 11 rebounds), Da’Naiyah Darnell (11 and 10), and Zariia America (10 and 13). Journey Robinson just missed a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.
The team’s game scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 17, at Patrick & Henry was postponed because of player illnesses. It will be made up Sunday, Feb. 25, at 1 p.m. It is the final game of the season for the women.
For more information on VPCC and its athletics programs, visit www.vpcc.edu.