Bats come alive in win over Caldwell

The Virginia Peninsula Community College baseball team used a pair of big innings to defeat Caldwell Community College (N.C.) 14-5 on Sunday, April 6, at War Memorial Stadium.

The Gators (10-24, 7-8 Region 10) took control early with a four-run second inning and a five-run third to coast to the win. Aidan Feather (Grassfield High School/Chesapeake) had three hits and drove in five runs, including a three-run double in the third inning. Justin Bryson (Arbor View/Las Vegas) also had three hits, including a pair of doubles, drove in three runs and scored twice. Marco Fernandez (Spanish River/Fla.) and Israel Dozier (Kempsville/Virginia Beach) each added two hits, with Fernandez adding two RBIs and two runs. Kaden Hunley (Middlesex) earned the win, going 5 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and three earned runs. He struck out four.

Caldwell swept a doubleheader from the Gators the day before, winning 6-4 and 12-2. In the first game, the Gators took a 4-3 lead into the ninth inning but couldn't hang on. Feather and Brendan Walker each had two hits. Hayden Felker (Manchester/Richmond) had a strong outing for the Gators, going five innings and giving up six hits and three runs (two earned). In the second game, the Cobras scored five runs in the fourth and five more in the seventh for the win.

The Gators began the week by splitting a doubleheader header against The Apprentice School at War Memorial Stadium on March 31. They lost the first game 6-3 before winning the second 9-1.

In the opener, the Gators outhit the Builders 7-6, led by Dozier with four singles. Cody Myers (Liberty HS/Richmond) pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, giving up just one hit and one earned run. In the second game, the Gators had three-run innings in the fourth, fifth and sixth for the victory. Bryson had a three-run homer in the fourth, followed by Tyler Stobbs' (Spotswood/Harrisonburg) two-run double in the fifth for a 6-0 lead. They put the game out of reach in the sixth on RBI doubles from Dozier and Jayden Alvarez (Woodside/Newport News), and a single by Feather. Logan Contreraz (Deep Creek/Chesapeake) and Wilson Estep (Walsingham Academy/Williamsburg) combined to hold the Builders to two hits, with Contreraz pitching 4 2/3 innings and Estep 2 1/3.

The Gators have four more games this week, starting Tuesday against The Apprentice School at War Memorial Stadium at 4 p.m. They travel to North Carolina for a Region 10 weekend series against Rockingham Community College. There is a doubleheader Saturday, followed by a single game Sunday.

The Gators aren't home again until April 19 against Paul D. Camp Community College. Their doubleheader at War Memorial Stadium starts at noon. It is their final home date of the season.

For more information on VPCC, visit www.vpcc.edu.