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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Ten different Captains registered a hit in Wednesday afternoon's baseball game against the Newport News Apprentice School (25-11), but Christopher Newport (23-17) suffered a 15-3 loss to the Builders in the 2014 regular season finale. It was the final home game for eight seniors, who were celebrated in a special pre-game ceremony. 

Among those seniors were several players coming away from the 2014 season with record-breaking performances. Senior left-handed starter Nick Santalucia had one of the most impressive single seasons in program history in his swan song, and set the program mark for lowest earned run average in a single season. His 1.39 ERA was only slightly ahead of classmate Bryan Bierlein's single season mark from this year, at 1.40. The two will register as the number one and number two best ERA's in CNU history. In Bierlein's case, his stellar senior year dropped his career earned run average to a new standard for Christopher Newport baseball. The right-hander posted a 2.15 ERA in 255.2 innings pitched, besting Kenny Moreland's previous record of 2.25. 

Offensively, Billy Steel earned his 172nd career start on Wednesday, breaking Matt Turner's record for games played and games started in a career. The consistent face at shortstop enjoyed one of the finest seasons in CNU history as a senior, wrapping up his final campaign with a .427 batting average, ranking fifth all-time, and a .521 on-base percentage, ranking as the third best single season mark.  He finished ranked in the top ten in most offensive categories, including second in career hits (223), second in career on-base percentage (.466) and first in career doubles (52). 

Steel wrapped his career on Wednesday with a 1-for-1 line with three walks, reaching base in all four of his plate appearances. 

The top spot in the lineup led the way for the Captains, as three different players posted hits out of the lead-off spot. Tommy Vitaletti led off the game with a double down the line and Austin Kilbourne singled to right center in his second at-bat. Then, in the top of the ninth inning, Bierlein stepped in to pinch-hit for his first career at-bat and will graduate with a 1.000 average after slicing a hard shot through the right side. 

The Apprentice School jumped on the Captains early and continued to add to its lead all game with runs in all but two frames. A five-run fifth inning was the biggest roll of the day for the Builders, but the road team had four multi-run innings. Chris Perry (5-2) got the win on the hill, tossing eight innings for Apprentice with two strikeouts and three runs allowed.

Christopher Newport seniors Justin Weaver and Curtis Pittman each had one hit, as both blistered doubles in the contest. Weaver came around to score, while Paul Keyes and Collin Wilber represented the other two runs for CNU. 

The Captains conclude the 2014 season with a 23-17 overall record.