By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com

The Napa Valley College baseball team lost its second straight game to start the 2024 season, falling 18-5 to host Modesto Junior College in a nonconference game on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

Modesto scored its runs in bunches – including four runs in the second inning, seven runs in the third inning, three runs in the sixth inning, three runs in the eighth inning.

Napa Valley (0-2 overall) was charged with five errors and left 14 runners on base.

NVC pitching gave up 16 earned runs and walked 13 batters.

Modesto had six extra-base hits and left 11 runners on base.

The Storm scored its first run of the game when Connor Ray had an RBI single up the middle in the first inning.

Cole Van Stone scored on a wild pitch in the second inning.

Samuel Anderson had an RBI single up the middle in the fourth inning.

Also in the fourth inning, the Storm scored a run on an infield error.

Isiah Alfred had a run-scoring single to right-center in the eighth inning.

Jorge Lopez-Rios was 2-for-4 to lead Napa Valley.

With one hit each was Vincent Lencioni (1-for-4), Alfred (1-for-1), Ray (1-for-5), Van Stone (1-for-2), and Anderson (1-for-3).

Jameson Hogarth took the loss after starting and pitching 2 1/3 innings.

Pitching in relief was Alfred, Seth Vazquez and Khyler Cabebe.

The win went to Jason DeShon, who made the start and pitched two innings.

Modesto used seven pitchers in the game. They combined to strike out 14 batters and walk nine.

Bryce Campbell went 3-for-6 with a home run and four RBIs for Modesto.

Paul Contreras was 3-for-6 with two doubles and three RBIs.

Logan Hart was 1-for-4 with a triple and four RBIs.

Jacob Kowes was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

* Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019 after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016, the Vintage High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.