OAKDALE — Sierra plated all of its runs in the fifth inning and then thwarted a potential game-changing rally in the bottom half to escape Oakdale 4-3 in a showdown between the Valley Oak League’s top two clubs from a year ago.
Down 4-1, the reigning champion Mustangs (2-1, 8-4 overall) loaded the bases with no outs against Sierra ace Jason Silva.  They scratched across a pair of runs before Jacob Frisk took over the pitcher’s mound for Silva (4 2/3 innings, three strikeouts) with two away. Frisk and the Timberwolves (3-0, 11-3-1) wriggled out of the jam, and he held on for his fourth save of the season.
The pitching duo combined for a two-hitter. Frisk struck out one in 2 1/3 innings.
“He had to work pretty hard for this save,” Sierra coach Travis Thomson said. “We are proud of what he did today. He came in with bases loaded and two outs, and the moment didn’t phase him at all. With a team like Oakdale, the toughest three outs come the last inning they go to bat.”
Louis Aquila went 2 for 3 at the plate and delivered the big blow for Sierra, a three-run double in its fifth-inning flurry. Jesse Ortiz-Martinez ignited the two-out rally with a line-drive single that scored Tyler Kiser. Aquila drove in Matt Dunham, Ortiz-Martinez and Julian Cantu two batters later.
“It’s never easy going to Oakdale and leaving with a win,” Thomson said. “We are extremely proud of the effort from our team. These guys battle. These guys don’t feel they are every out of a game. It’s great to watch as coaches.”

East Union 6, Central Catholic 1
MODESTO — After getting swept by Oakdale last week, the Lancers (1-2 VOL, 9-5 overall) picked up a much-needed win behind Fernando Segura’s complete-game gem.
The senior fired seven strikeouts and allowed seven this and a walk. He was aided offensively by Andrew Oliveras’ two-run single in the fifth inning. East Union scored four in the inning to break it open, and Oliveras finished 3 for 4. Daniel Ruiz added a solo homer and two RBIs in a 2-for-3 effort.
“Fernando absolutely gave us the spark we needed today on the mound, and that was mixed in with great defense and great approaches at the plate,” East Union coach Gene Ballardo said. “Hopefully we can build on that.”
Connor Semone knocked in Tyler Van Dyk in the bottom of the second for Central Catholic’s lone run. The Raiders fell to 1-4 in league, 4-8 overall.

Kimball 3, Weston Ranch 1
TRACY — Carlos Souza and the Cougars (0-3 VOL, 8-7 overall) battled valiantly but could not overcome Jon Sarmiento and Kimball (2-1, 9-3).
Souza went the distance in the pitcher’s duel, striking out three against four walks. Sarmiento had nine strikeouts and allowed six walks in 5 2/3 innings. Kyle Gibson got the save in the combined two-hitter.
Weston Ranch manage to chase Sarmiento in the sixth when it scored its only run, but the Jags escaped further damage when their left fielder made a diving grab on Isaiah Maxie’s line drive for the third out.
“Carlos really competed today,” Weston Ranch coach David Hager said. “He struggled at times to find the zone, but he gave up a couple infield hits that scored a couple runs and that’s what did us in. Overall, we were able to get some quality at-bats against a really good pitcher and I’m happy with the way we played, we just couldn’t get the big hit we needed.”

Manteca 6, Bear Creek 3
The Buffaloes (11-4) avenged one of their losses in the non-league tilt, using a four-run burst in the bottom of the fifth to jump ahead, 6-1.
Bear Creek (11-2), the defending San Joaquin Athletic Association champion, scored twice in the sixth but could not complete the comeback.
Dylan Gross came up big for Manteca. He pitched four innings for the win and went 3 for 3 with two RBIs at the plate. Dylan Guise pitched a perfect seventh inning and struck out two for the save.
Alex Gouveia was 3 for 4 with a double and two runs. Dominic Day and Zach Todd (doubled) each drove in a pair of runs.

Beyer 12, Lathrop 2
LATHROP — Beyer jumped out to a 7-1 lead after two innings but didn’t get its final three runs until the top of the seventh.
Matt Julien went 2 for 4 with a run for Lathrop (1-5 Western Athletic Conference, 1-9 overall), which was held to five hits and struck out 11 times. Daniel Lee (double, triple) and Brady Cardozo (two RBIs) produced three hits and three runs apiece for the reigning Sac-Joaquin Section Division III champion Patriots (2-3, 6-8).

Ripon Christian 6, Orestimba 1
RIPON — A four-run outburst in the bottom of the second was all the Knights (6-1 Southern Athletic League, 10-4 overall) needed to support sophomore hurler Will Gilbert. He threw all seven innings, striking out five against six hits and two walks.
Declan Van Vuren powered the attack, going 4 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Nolan Lingley went 2 for 3 with a two-run homer.

Junior varsity
C. Catholic 5, East Union 2
MODESTO — The Lancers (2-1 VOL, 8-4 overall) had a five-game winning streak snapped. Central Catholic rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth to come away with the win.
Austin Orr accounted for two of East Union’s three hits, one of them a double. He also had two RBIs. Willie Segura took the loss after firing seven strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.

Oakdale 7, Sierra 6
OAKDALE — Sierra (0-3 VOL, 7-5 overall) suffered its third straight setback, all decided by one run.
Sonny Elder went 2 for 3, Jakob Lopez laced a two-run single and Blake Fonseca contributed an RBI double.