Pirates beat Barstow 11-9, split opening games of the season

PORTERVILLE – Playing in front of the home crowd for the first time this season, the Porterville College offense showed its fans what it is capable of this year. The Pirates totaled 14 hits on their way to an 11-9 non-conference win over visiting Barstow Community College on Tuesday.

PC scored early and often. Porterville put up four runs in the bottom of the first inning and added four more in the third to take a commanding 8-2 lead that they wouldn't give up.

Catcher Daniel Clancy led the charge, driving in three runs while going 3 for 4 at the plate. Dylan Novotny also had three hits (3 for 4) and had 2 RBI. Ayden Markovich (2 for 4, 2B) scored a pair of runs and also drove in two.

Jason Kramlich went a solid three inning for the Pirates in the start. He allowed 2 unearned runs and 2 hits while striking out 7.

The victory came after a tough 12-3 loss on Friday in Porterville's 2023 season opener against Feather River College in a game played in Taft. Feather River totaled just four hits but took advantage of five PC errors to score six unearned runs.

Chris Ortega smacked a two-run home run for the Pirates in the sixth and Koda Larsen hit a pinch-hit RBI single in the ninth.

Porterville, now 1-1 on the season, returns to action on Saturday (Feb. 4) at 11 a.m. when the Pirates travel to Barstow for a doubleheader.