RIVERBANK — Caleb Terpsma drove in three runs for Ripon Christian and struck out six to lead the Knights to a 24-3 five-inning non-league baseball win over Riverbank on Wednesday.
“We are starting to make adjustments and we are swinging the bats better,” Ripon Christian coach John De Visser said. “We are using this week to get ready for conference next week.
“We had a lot of competitive bats all day and that is what we need going into conference.”
Nolan Lingley belted a home run and had a double, going 3 for 6 with five RBI, four runs and two stolen bases. Terpsma went 3 for 5 and scored five runs with a double and two stolen bases. He allowed one hit over four innings and issued four walks. Declan VanVuren (4 for 5, five RBI, three runs, triple, four stolen bases), Joseph DeBruyn (3 for 5, three RBI, run) Drake Nelson (2 for 2, three RBI, four runs double, two stolen bases), Brock Nunes (3 for 4, two RBI, run) and Dale Fisher (two RBI) rounded out the potent offense for the Knights (4-2).
 
East Union 7, Linden 5
LINDEN — Andrew Mount launched a two-run home run in the fifth inning for the Lancers (5-2), and Zach White laced three doubles, going 3 for 4 with two RBI.
“It is good to get back on the winning track again,” East Union coach Gene Ballardo said. “Hopefully we can build off of this.
“Jaydin Alvarez had another quality start for us so things are looking up for him.”
Alvarez struck out five in six innings, yielded four hits with three runs, walking three. Andrew Morones closed the game out in the seventh.  
 
Weston Ranch 4, Lathrop 2
LATHROP – Austin Cappas struck out 12 in six innings of work for the Cougars (5-2), walking one and allowing four hits.
“We played pretty well,” Cougars coach Dave Hager said. “We took care of the baseball. We hit some balls hard, we just hit them right at Lathrop.
"Give Lathrop credit. Just about every time we hit the ball hard they seemed to be in the right spot.”
Scoreless going into the fifth inning, Isaiah Maxie (2 for 4, run) and Cappas singled for Weston Ranch. Carlos Drain (2 for 3, double) launched a shot that was misplayed, resulting in a two-RBI triple. Mi’Son Coilton doubled in David Baca (2 for 2) in the sixth.
Eli Bermudez was 2 for 3 for the Spartans (0-4) and Kimalan Perilla doubled.
“The kids played hard,” Lathrop coach Chuck Garcia said. “If it wasn’t for two mistakes, we would have been in the game. Every game we are getting better.
“Both teams played well.”
 
Manteca 16, Merced 1
MERCED — The Buffaloes rode the hot hand of Ryan Ward and belted out nine hits in the six-inning win.
“I am proud of the way Ryan competed on the mound today,” Manteca coach Neil MacDannald said. “He didn’t have his best stuff, but still found a way.
“I am also pleased with our approach at the plate. We had great two-out at-bats which is a sign of a team that fights till the end.  We are getting better. We have work to do still, but I can see improvement each day.”
Nathan Gutierrez tripled for Buffaloes (5-3), knocking in four runs and scoring three. Dominic Rea doubled and scored twice, Alex Gouveia was 2 for 4, with two RBI and two runs and Dylan Gross was 2 for 3.
 
Junior Varsity
East Union 3, Linden 2
Evan Jeffery and Bennie Slaughter knocked in a run apiece for the Lancers.
John Perrazo and Jeffery combined for nine strikeouts through the first six innings and Austin Orr took the mound in the seventh, striking out two.
Willie Segura (two stolen bases, run) and Anthony Flores (stolen base, two runs) doubled for East Union.