PBB: Chargers beat Buena, take over first place

Dos Pueblos defeated Buena 13-5 during a Channel League baseball game in Ventura on Tuesday afternoon, scoring a season high in runs on 14 hits.

Coupled with Ventura’s 1-0 win over Santa Barbara, Dos Pueblos takes over first place in the league standings with a 6-3 record. Buena (4-3), Ventura (4-3), Santa Barbara (5-4), and San Marcos (1-7) are chasing.

The Chargers were led by Luke Coffey, who went 3 for 4 while hitting a home run and driving in three runs. Jesse Speier went 2 for 4 with two runs scored while Nick Noggle went 2 for 5 with an RBI and run scored.

“Our bats came alive today and our starting pitcher Travis Craven did a great job getting the victory for us,” said Dos Pueblos head coach Nick Katzenstein. “Offensively, we scored or threatened to score in every inning except the second.”

On the mound, Craven picked up the win while surrendering four earned runs and seven hits in 4 innings of work.  He was relieved by Michael Boelter, who pitched 3 scoreless innings.

After trailing 5-3 headed into the top of the fourth, the Chargers put on an offensive display with eight runs in the inning. From that point onward, Dos Pueblos never looked back.

“It was a bit of a hit parade today and fortunately, our hits were more timely than theirs,” added coach Katzenstein.

With the victory, Dos Pueblos improves to 12-13 overall and 6-3 in Channel League. The Chargers play host to Buena in a rematch on Friday.