Region 10 regular season comes to close for Gators

The Gators closed Region 10 play with a 10-14 record after Surry Community College (N.C.) swept a three-game series April 26-27 in Dobson, N.C. Despite the losses, the Gators (13-30 overall) had chances to win each game.

In the April 26 doubleheader, the first game was a slugfest and the second a pitchers' duel. In the opener, VPCC gave up seven runs in the first inning, but then pulled within one on two occasions before falling 14-12. Aidan Feather (Grassfield High School/Chesapeake) had three hits, and Jayden Alvarez (Woodside/Newport News), Brendan Walker (Lancaster), Marco Fernandez (Spanish River/Fla.), Anthony Tortorice (Catholic HS/Chesapeake) and Justin Bryson (Arbor View/Las Vegas) two each as the Gators had 16 as a team. Feather and Fernandez hit home runs, and Bryson had two doubles. Bryson drove in three runs, and Feather, Alvarez, Fernandez and Israel Dozier (Kempsville/Virginia Beach) each had two RBIs.

In the second game, the Gators lost 3-1 after being held to just two hits. Zack Easton (Hermitage/Richmond) pitched a complete game, going six innings and giving up five hits and three runs. He struck out five.

The series concluded with a 10-9 loss April 27, as the Gators gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Feather, Caleb Gonzales (Kempsville/Virginia Beach) and Austin Smith (Creekside/Georgia) had two hits each. Feather and Alvarez hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh to give the Gators a 9-8 lead, but the Knights rallied.

VPCC has five non-conference games this week before the Region 10 tournament begins May 8. Depending on this week's games, the Gators will finish third or fourth in the five-team conference. The NJCAA World Series runs May 24-29.

For more information on VPCC, visit www.vpcc.edu.