Ventura caps year with win, Adams tips cap after 22 years

VENTURA, Calif. - Transfer sophomore Justin Friedman made a strong case for Western State Conference pitcher of the year Thursday, pitching a six-hit shutout over conference champion Santa Barbara in the Pirates' season finale at Pirate Park. The University of San Diego signee struck out eight Vaqueros, hanging nine zero's on the board for the victory, pushing VC into a third place tie in the final conference standings. The day will also be remembered as longtime skipper Don Adams' final game as manager of the Pirates.

Friedman was sharp all afternoon long, backed up by a solid defensive effort by the Pirates (20-20, 10-10). He faced just 31 batters on the day, allowing six base runners. Santa Barbara only advanced one runner past second base on the day as Friedman ended the season with a record of 8-2.

Bryson Wallet was 3-4 in the game with an RBI and a run scored and Rodolfo Aguilar had two hits and scored a run. Blake Chiaramonte had a pair of hits, scored once and drove in a run while Elijah Alexander doubled and scored two runs.

Ventura took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Aguilar had a one-out single, then moved to second on Chiaramonte's walk. An out later, Wallet delivered the big two-out hit with an RBI single.

In the sixth, the Pirates doubled their advantage. Alexander drew a base on balls and Kaden Betsch sacrificed him to second. After the second out, Shane Gipson doubled to score Alexander, giving VC a 2-0 lead.

VC broke things open with a six-run eighth inning. Wallet singled and Alexander doubles to start the rally. Betsch was hit by a pitch and T.J. Durfee walked in a run. All the runners moved up a base with Alexander scoring on a wild pitch, then Gipson re-loaded the diamond as he was also hit by a pitch. Chris McKee then singled in Betsch before the first out of the frame. The runners all advanced on another wild pitch, with Durfee crossing the plate. Chiaramonte had an RBI single to score Gipson before Brendan Griffith hit a sacrifice fly to center field to plate McGee. The rally made the final score 8-0.

During the seventh inning stretch, the Pirates honored the 22-year head coaching career of Don Adams, who is retiring at the end of the season. His 39-years of contributions to Pirate baseball and Pirate athletics as a student athlete, assistant coach, head coach, and many other duties were highlighted as the skipper was joined on the field by VC Hall of Famer Gary Anglin and many of Adams' colleagues within the athletic department, in addition to both teams. It was a fitting tribute as the Pirates sent the manager off into retirement with a solid victory to finish the season.

ABOUT DON ADAMS
* Don Adams enrolled in Ventura College in 1972 and competed for the Pirate baseball team in 1973-74, beginning his time as a Pirate. He returned in 1980 after years spent playing at Westmont College and then coaching at Westmont College and UC Santa Barbara. He has served as a coach and instructor at Ventura College since then and took over as head baseball coach in 1995.

* Coach Adams has been a part of three different WSC titles as a player, assistant coach or head coach. He has also been a part of over 600 wins in his time at Ventura College.

* During his tenure at Ventura College mentoring Pirate hitters an assistant coach or head coach, Coach Adams' teams have set nearly every offensive record in the Pirate record books.

* Coach Adams has helped to send more than 350 players on to four-year colleges during his tenure as a Pirate assistant coach or head coach.

* During his time at Ventura College, nine former Pirate players have gone on to appear on a Major League Baseball roster. Also, numerous Pirates have played in the minor leagues and independent professional leagues.

* In addition to his time on the baseball field Coach Adams has spent time as an assistant football coach and was the Western State Conference Sports Information Director for several decades.