Baseball:

The back-and-forth chase for the Best of the West League title between the Inland Valley Pirates and the Ventura County Pirates was finally decided on the next to last game of the regular season.

The VC Pirates clinched the outright title on Saturday, thanks to its 7-3 victory over the So Cal Shepherds.

With one game remaining for both teams, the VCP holds a 1.5 game lead over the IVP.

Dylan Goodrich went four innings and allowed three runs on five hits.

He walked two and fanned four.

Kellan Montgomery and Josiah Castillo combined to go five scoreless innings in relief to close out the title.

Montgomery tossed a perfect two innings and struck out four.

Castillo gave up two hits over three innings, didn’t issue a walk and struck out one Shepherds’ batter.

Joey Scotvold walked, singled and drove in two for SCS.

Brenden Coffindaffer doubled and scored.

Andrew White singled and scored.

Alex Laureano walked, singled and scored.

Sam Mueller was stuck with the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits over five innings.

Mueller issued six walks and didn’t register a strikeout.

Angelo Aleman was the difference.

The former Maranatha standout doubled, homered, scored twice and drove in a game-high four runs.

Darren Taylor singled twice and scored.

Daniel Laughery walked three times and scored.

Robbie Treto walked, singled and had one RBI.

Jack Burke walked twice, scored and had an RBI.

Lee Brandzel and Nolan Lingley each had an RBI single.

Quintt Landis walked, singled, scored and drove in a run.

Troy Anderson scored and had one RBI in Saturday’s win.

Box Score:
SCS: 0-3-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-(3)
VCP: 0-6-0-0-0-0-1-0-X-(7)

Win: Dylan Goodrich
Loss: Sam Mueller

HR: Angelo Aleman (VCP); Brenden Coffindaffer (SCS)
2B: Angelo Aleman (VCP)

Records: SCS (10-13); VCP (18-5)