Escalon was up in arms.
East Union’s arms were pumping in celebration.
It was a controversial end to East Union’s 6-5 victory at Agostini Field on Wednesday. Escalon (1-4-1) had climbed all the way back from a 5-0 deficit and tied it in the top of the seventh.
In the home half of the final frame, Brennan Koeller doled out the game-winning hit — or was it a hit? Jesus Esquivel led off with a single, and with two outs Koeller pounded a line drive to the right-center field gap. Escalon’s center fielder dove for the ball and ultimately came up with the ball, but an umpire ruled that it hit the turf first. The Cougars protested the call. Esquivel, meanwhile, was chugging around the base paths.
“Escalon thought they had the game-saving catch, and it was close,” East Union coach Dan Triglia said.
It was the second straight start in which UC Riverside-bound Jordan Kron was cruising along until the opposition mounted a furious late comeback. Last Thursday, he had a no-hitter brewing along with a 9-0 lead at the start of the seventh inning against Gregori, which came up short, 9-7.
Kron took a shutout into the sixth, when Escalon rallied for its first four runs. The Cougars could have had done more damage with the bases loaded and one out at one point.
Sophomore Lucas Garcia, the winning pitcher, threw the final two innings, yielding one unearned run, three hits and a walk while striking out two.
East Union struck early with a four-run barrage in the second. Koeller clubbed an RBI double and was followed by run-scoring knocks from Andrew Ruiz and Justin Ontiveros. In the fourth, Garcia drove in Justin Nieto for EU’s final run.
East Union is back in action today when Patterson visits.
Sierra 11, Cosumnes Oaks 0
The Timberwolves (3-2-1) opened the McNair Tournament in Stockton with a five-run first inning. Dakota Conners and Marc Wilson, who each went 2 for 3, belted RBI hits in the onslaught.
Wilson also pitched the first four innings for Sierra, striking out one, walking one and scattering five hits. Kyle Oden closed it out in the fifth. Sophomore outfielder Ryan Vasquez set the tone early, throwing out a runner at the plate to end the top of the first.
“We played our most complete game of the year,” Sierra coach Jack Thomson said. “We had our best approach at the plate and played well defensively.”
Sierra plays tourney host McNair Friday morning starting at 10 and squares off with Gregori at 12:30 p.m.
Ripon 20, Ripon Christian 2
Ripon (6-5) reached the 20-run barrier for a second time against visiting rival Ripon Christian (2-5-1) on Wednesday. The Indians won their first meeting 20-1 at Ripon Christian back on Feb. 26.
They needed just three hits — one being a two-run double from Dante Machado — in the third inning when they put up a 10 spot to widen their early lead to 15-1. Ripon capitalized on five walks and four hit batsmen while sending 16 batters to the plate.
Zach Horwood paced the onslaught with a 2-for-3 effort, three runs, two RBIs and a double. Fotios Jordanoglou, Josh Clark and Michael Ysit also plated three runs apiece. Scott Robison was 1 for 1 with a double, two runs and three RBIs. Caleb Rogers went 2 for 4. Ripon totaled eight hits, and sophomore Brandon Scott (3 innings, 10 strikeouts, 4 hits) was the winning pitcher.
Travis Vander Molen and Chris Saenz each hit 2 for 3 for the Knights
Millennium 12, Weston Ranch 3
At Weston Ranch, freshman Jordan Severin carried a three-hit shutout into the seventh inning with the Cougars (2-6) ahead 3-0.
Severin walked the first two batters he faced, and after he was pulled the Falcons from Tracy made their move. Three hits and seven Weston Ranch errors later, Millennium led 12-3.
“Jordan was pitching a phenomenal game,” Weston Ranch coach Ron Wayman said. “It’s just heartbreaking that we couldn’t close it out. Overall, we played six innings of solid baseball and that was nice to see. Now, the challenge as a team is to be able to finish the game.”
Joe Tillman was a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate, while Jared Ferrari and Parker Hardy each swatted two hits.
Sophomore baseball
Escalon 9, East Union 6
Chance Goatcher slammed a bases-clearing double, but it was enough for the Squires Wednesday. Bailey Simons and Marco Gonzales recorded two hits apiece. Kyle Emerson pitched the first 5 1/3 innings, striking out three and giving up three hits and no walks.
