Sports Update for Feb. 3: Baseball Drops Opener

The Virginia Peninsula Community College baseball team, after its first six scheduled games were canceled because of weather, finally opened the season Feb. 2 at Bryant & Stratton. Unfortunately, the result was a 5-3 loss.

After falling behind 3-0 after four innings, the Gators tied the game with one run in the sixth inning and two in the seventh. Justin Bryson (Arbor View High School/Las Vegas) drove in Austin Smith (Creekside/Georgia) in the sixth with a single. In the seventh, the Gators scored two more runs with the help of errors by Bryant & Stratton.

However, the host Bobcats scored on a sacrifice fly and a groundout in the bottom half of the inning for the win.

The Gators had five hits, including doubles by Aidan Feather (Grassfield/Chesapeake) and Garrett Hudson (Robinson/Tampa, Fla.), but committed four errors. Kaden Hunley (Middlesex) pitched the first four innings and gave up five hits and three runs, but just one was earned. Cody Myers (Liberty/Richmond) suffered the loss, giving up one earned run in one inning.

VPCC returns to action Saturday, Feb. 8, with two games at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland. The home-opener is the following day with a doubleheader against the College of Southern Maryland at War Memorial Stadium in Hampton. First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for noon.

Men’s basketball

The Gators had just one game last week, losing 71-63 at Camp Community College on Jan. 29 in a Region 10 contest. VPCC (12-6, 3-2) led 28-19 at the half but was outscored 52-35 in the final 20 minutes. The Gators are scheduled to play at Chowan University on Feb. 3 before closing the regular season with three consecutive home games (Feb. 8 vs. Sandhills Community College, Feb. 12 against Camp and Feb. 15 against Patrick & Henry Community College).

For more information on VPCC athletics, visit www.vpccgators.com. For more information on VPCC, visit www.vpcc.edu.