Despite the budget cuts on Moorpark baseball, the Raiders earned a share of the Western State Conference title with Cuesta College and Santa Barbara City College.
Playing under a cloud of inevitable ending, Head Coach, Mario Porto’s Moorpark baseball team finished with a (12-8) record in conference play. Winning 10 out of their last 14 games, Moorpark grabbed their third conference championship in Moorpark baseball history (04′,90′).
The Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees ruled to cut the Moorpark baseball program in early January due to budget restrictions. When the news broke about the cut to baseball, people were shocked. It caused an uproar amongst the Moorpark community. Players, parents, and coaches made a conscious effort to be at every public hearing; making sure their voices were being heard. Unfortunately, their efforts weren’t persuasive enough to change the VCCCD Board of Trustees’ mind.
Moorpark Athletic Director, Howard Davis, was doing all he could to try to save baseball during its unsure fate; but, his efforts to save the program haven’t stopped even though the ruling was official.
“Every year the state has tax measures that produce a budget,” said Davis. “Moorpark will have baseball again when the budget allows for it, and hopefully that’s soon.”
After 21 years of coaching at Moorpark, this circumstance is certainly new for Porto.
Because of the expiration date placed on the team, many would think that the mentality throughout the season would be different. On the contrary, Coach Porto has made sure to establish an attitude that was just like any other season.
“I expected our team to compete for a conference title,” said Porto. “That’s what you play the game for, to win. Regardless of the cut, our goal has always been to win our conference.”
The Raider’s pitching has been the anchor to their success throughout their conference title run, according to Porto. Freshman pitcher, Nick Rogowski, has been leading the surge with his top form on the mound and with his bat. Right now Rogowski has posted two shutouts and has a 1.54 ERA, which leads the Western State Conference. His offense is just as stellar, posting a .390 batting average and a .492 slugging percentage.
“Nick has been great, both pitching and batting, his play has been huge,” said Porto.
The Raiders won two of their last three games to capture the title. Two of the three were on the road, including a win at Ventura College, and Saturday’s win over Allan Hancock at home to clinch the conference trophy.
The Raiders won their last home game against Allan Hancock in dramatic fashion, 6-5. Many alumni and parents were in attendance on Saturday’s game, which set an emotional atmosphere for Moorpark baseball’s final home game.
“We are baseball players,” Porto stated. “We put our uniforms on and play the game. We aren’t worried about the extra stuff, we are concerned with the ball game, that’s it.”
