Nathan Virgen

Pirates 2015 Season Preview

The Pirates return 14 players from their SCCBL 2015 regular season co-championship team.

Andrew Alavarez pre game

Andrew Alvarez

Former SCCBL all-stars Andrew Alvarez, Kyle Jackson, Jonny Reynoso, Anthony Virgen and Nathan Virgen are all back to help the club improve to the next level after last season’s successful 26-8 finish.

Alvarez posted gaudy numbers, while dominating the competition in 2014. The Houston Baptist senior-to-be earned Pitcher of the Month honors in June, while finishing 5-0 with a 2.42 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 44.2 innings. He did damage with the bat as well, finishing with a .341 batting average and leading the team with 31 hits for the season.Read More »Pirates 2015 Season Preview

Pirates Drop Wild SCCBL Championship Game 1

pirates gm 30On Tuesday afternoon at Cal Poly Pomona, the pitcher of the month in June, Andrew Alvarez was set to duel the pitcher of the month in July for the Power, Morgan Earman. Surely runs would be at a premium.

That’s why they play the games.

The Pirates (26-7, 12-4) fell 18-13 to the Palm Springs Power (35-8, 12-4) in a game that was completed on Wednesday at Palm Springs Stadium after Game 1 was suspended due to darkness on Tuesday.Read More »Pirates Drop Wild SCCBL Championship Game 1

Pirates Down Halos

pirates gm 25The Pirates (23-5, 10-4) defeated the OC Halos 6-1 on Sunday afternoon at Cal Poly Pomona.

Inland Valley got out to a quick start in the first inning as Greg Espinosa scored on an RBI by Andrew Alvarez to make it 1-0.

The Halos knotted it up at 1-1 in the fourth inning.

Anthony Virgen killed any moment the Halos might have had with a majestic two-run homer over the left field wall in the fifth inning. Anthony’s brother, Nathan, also scored on the big fly and the Pirates regained the lead at 3-1.Read More »Pirates Down Halos

Pirates Win Game 1 in SD

pirates gm 19The Pirates (16-4, 7-3) defeated Team San Diego (16-8, 6-4) 8-4 in Game 1 of the doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Morley Field in San Diego.

Inland Valley came out of the gate strong with two runs in the first inning when Jonny Reynoso belted a two-run double scoring Greg Espinosa and Andrew Alvarez.

San Diego came back with two of their own in the bottom of the first to knot it up at 2 apiece.Read More »Pirates Win Game 1 in SD

Pirates Top Power in Game 1

pirates gm 16The Pirates (13-3-1, 5-2) defeated the Palm Springs Power (17-2, 3-2) in a tightly contested 3-2 victory at Cal Poly Pomona Monday afternoon.

Andrew Alvarez (4-0) shut down the Power for the second consecutive time and remains the only pitcher to notch a victory against Palm Springs. Alvarez tossed 8.1 innings, striking out four and only allowing two runs in the ninth inning.

The Pirates took the lead in the fifth on an RBI double down the left field line by Jacob Bernardy scoring Nathan Virgen.Read More »Pirates Top Power in Game 1

Pirates Complete Doubleheader Sweep

pirates gm 15The Pirates (12-3-1, 4-2) defeated the Bucs (3-12, 2-8) 10-3 Saturday afternoon at Cal Poly Pomona to complete the doubleheader sweep.

The Pirates put the game away early, jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning.

Jason Padlo ripped an RBI double, one of his three hits on the day. Michael Johnson cracked a two-run double, but he wasn’t finished yet.Read More »Pirates Complete Doubleheader Sweep

Pirates Tie Dodgers in Game 2

pirates gm 13After trailing 2-0 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and no one on base, the Pirates put together the ultimate two-out rally to knot the score at 2 apiece in Game 2 of the doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at Cal Poly Pomona.

Christian Kelley took one for the team. Michael Johnson cracked a double. Nathan Virgen belted a two-run single up the middle.Read More »Pirates Tie Dodgers in Game 2

6 is the Magic Number for the Pirates

pirates gm 12The magic number for the Pirates (10-3, 2-2) against the East L.A. Dodgers was six in game one of the double dip on Tuesday afternoon at Cal Poly Pomona.

Inland Valley scored six runs in the sixth inning en route to a 9-2 victory.

The Dodgers actually took a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth, but that’s when the offensive fireworks exploded for the men in red.Read More »6 is the Magic Number for the Pirates

Pirates Cool Off the Heat in Game 2

pirates gm 11After dropping Game 1 of the doubleheader, the Inland Valley Pirates (9-3, 2-2) cooled off the High Desert Heat (3-3, 2-2) in Game 2 en route to a 6-4 victory.

Christian Kelley scored Fernando Escobar on a sacrifice fly and Jonny Reynoso ripped an RBI single scoring Nolan Henley to put the Pirates in front 2-0.

The Heat responded with one run in the fourth to cut the deficit to 2-1.Read More »Pirates Cool Off the Heat in Game 2