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East Union’s Peyton Heath is VOL MVP
All-VOL Baseball
Peyton Heath slides to home plate for an East Union run in a Valley Oak League game against Oakdale at Agostini Field. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

East Union capped an historic year for boys sports when the baseball team followed the football, basketball and soccer programs to the Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals.

The Lancers (12-6, 21-10 overall) finished third in the highly-competitive Valley Oak League before falling to eventual Division IV section champion Roseville. They last reached the semifinals in 2011 while eclipsing the 20-win mark for the first time since 2004.

Two-way star Peyton Heath led the way and was recognized as All-VOL MVP. He’s one of five Lancers to make all-league. Runner-up Manteca (13-5, 22-10), which reached the Division III semifinals, has six on the All-VOL Team.

League champion and SJS Division IV finalist Central Catholic (15-3, 24-8) was awarded eight all-league spots but shut out of the major awards. Three of the top honors when to Oakdale (11-7, 18-10), as Georgia-signed Landon Schutte received Pitcher of the Year, Peyton Wallace garnered Offensive Player of the Year and Griffin Costa was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year.

All-VOL Baseball
East Union’s Peyton Heath pitches against Bradshaw Christian in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoff game. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

Heath was East Union’s top run producer in league play. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound utility infielder appeared in all 18 VOL games, plating 24 runs while driving in 15. He hit .444, slugged three homers and dashed to a team-high 10 steals.

Also the Lancers’ anchor on the pitching staff, Heath won five of his seven league appearances on the mound, striking out 37 in 29 1/3 innings.

Five Manteca Unified athletes were selected to the All-VOL First Team, with Manteca accounting for three of them.

All-VOL Baseball
Manteca shortstop Nate Slikker looks to turn the double play after getting the force-out at second base against Mountain House. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

Junior shortstop Nate Slikker earned his third first-team accolade after hitting .414 in league play with team-high’s in hits (24), runs (23), RBIs (23), doubles (eight) and homers (four).

All-VOL Baseball
Manteca’s Devon Richardson puts it in play for an RBI against East Union. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

Senior first baseman Devon Richardson helped power the Buffaloes offense with a breakthrough campaign that included a .449 batting average, seven doubles, two homers and 19 RBIs.

Junior pitcher Jeremy Cross is a first-time all-league selection, as he spearheaded Manteca with a 5-1 record, 1.66 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings.

East Union seniors Brayden Camara and Jackson Fay each made the first team for a second time.

All-VOL Baseball
East Union runner Brayden Camara hustles to third base during an early rally at Manteca. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

Third baseman Camara slugged two homers and 11 doubles while knocking in 12 runs with a .414 average. Center fielder Fay was ultra-productive despite a late start to the season, hitting .581 with a team-best 25 hits with 14 RBIs and nine steals in 13 games.

Named to the all-league second team for Manteca are junior pitcher Jimmy Burns (5-1, 2.26, 37 K), junior outfielder Brennen Vega (.382, 11 RBIs) and sophomore outfielder Bode Hiatt (.375).

They’re joined by East Union junior pitcher Cage Woodall (2-2, 1.59, 12 K) and senior infielder Julian Ledesma (.385).

Senior infielder Jayden Pimentel (.303, 11 RBIs) is the lone all-league awardee for Sierra (4-14, 11-18)

Getting honorable mention: Sierra senior pitcher Koa Rodrigues, East Union senior catcher Kirk Simoni, Sierra senior catcher Noah Valdivia, Manteca sophomore second baseman Brody Carabello and East Union senior utility player Efren Diaz.