Gabe Speier and Colin Cole combined on a two-hit shutout as Dos Pueblos beat Ventura 5-0 on Thursday, moving to 4-0 in the Channel League.
The win sets up a showdown three-game series with Santa Barbara for sole possession of first place in the league. The first game is Tuesday at Santa Barbara.
Speier started on the mound and allowed only two hits and a walk while striking out four in five innings. Cole finished off the final two innings without giving up a hit. Cole finished the game by striking out the side.
“Speier and Cole were both strong today and pitched with composure. They didn’t pitch like average sophomores,” praised coach Nate Mendoza.
The Chargers broke through in the top of the fourth, scoring all five runs. Catcher Kyle Richardson began the inning on base by an error from Ventura’s shortstop. Johnny Corazza then hit a double to right center, putting runners on second and third. Jordan Drewisch hit an RBI single to score Richardson, and Daniel Vickers hit a sharp line drive to right field for another RBI single.
Steven Reveles stepped up to the plate with two outs and hit a line drive to right field for an RBI single. Ben York finished off the inning with his own run-scoring single.
Reveles was 2-for-4, York 3-4. and Vickers finished 2-3.
Mendoza said his team is ready to face the challenge ahead against a tough Santa Barbara team.
“We are definitely ready and focused for next week’s series.”
Dos Pueblos moved to 14-4 overall
Dos Pueblos 5 Ventura 0
Dos Pueblos..000 050 0 –5 11 5
Ventura..000 000 0 — 0 2 1
Speier, Cole (6) and Richardson; Davidson, Arias (6) and Morton. W- Speier (5-2) L- Davidson
2B-DP: Corazza
