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EU BOUNCES BACK FOR WIN
East Union High

No. 6 East Union fell behind out of the gate Monday but rebounded to defeat 11th-seeded Beyer of Modesto 8-2 in opening round action of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs at Garvine Field. 

 “I hate Mondays,” Lancers coach Brian Goulart said. “We come out lackluster for Monday practices and games. We were just so dead. We need to find out how to get excited about a Monday game because I think if we continue to play well in the playoffs we have a game next Monday.

 “Shelby (Cefalu) and Bella (Anchundo) each had a big hit. Two big swings did some damage. We just have to have more consistency because we play Golden Valley on Wednesday and that is a good team.” 

 After leadoff batter Naveah Freitas (4 for 4, RBI, run) reached on a deflected infield single for the Patriots (13-8), she scored for a 1-0 run. 

East Union (16-9) answered back in the bottom of the frame. Savina Molina reached on an error and Mack Salgado (2 for 3, RBI, two runs) singled her in to tie the game. Salgado came home when Shelby Cefalu (2 for 3, home run, two RBI) launched a 1-0 offering over the fence for a 3-1 lead.  

 “I knew it was gone once it hit the bat,” Cefalu said. “I felt all of it.

 “This was single elimination today so I am glad we got the win.”

 The Lancers scored used three doubles to score three runs in the fifth inning as well. Chloe Agueda led off the frame with a double and was doubled in by Cali Blevins. Danielle Ramos then walked and Dani Godoy got down her second bunt of the day for a base hit to load the bases. Bella Anchundo (double, three RBI) then blasted a two-RBI double to plate Bradee Jeffery – who was running for Blevins – and Ramos to make the score 8-2.

 “I have been struggling with my bat lately,” Guidoy said. “So you have to do what you have to do. I had to bunt to help the team out.

 “If it works once, you might as well keep doing it.”

 Hayley Leonard went the distance in the circle for East Union, striking out eight and allowing just three hits in addition to the four by Freitas and two walks. . 

 “The first two innings we were all kind of flat,” Leonard said. “We didn’t come out as strong as we could. 

 “But once we scored some runs I talked to Coach G (Goulart) and Coach Randy (Friend) and they told me I had to go out there with more energy, get it done and finish the game strong.”

 The Lancers travel to Merced on Wednesday to face third-seeded Golden Valley at 4 p.m. in an elimination game. The Cougars defeated East Union 6-0 early in the season. 

 

Golden Valley 11, 

Sierra 0

 MERCED – Further information was not available at press time. 

  

Division VI

Ripon Christian 10,

 Rio Vista 1

 RIPON – The defending Division VII champion took a while to get on the board, not scoring until six fourth-inning runs.  

 “We were flat to start,” Ripon Christian coach Lenny Rizzutto said. “Monday games are not our thing. But we had some good defense and our hitting finally came around.

 “Everyone pitched in a little bit. We have work to do at practice.”

 Rebecca Postmus went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run for the second-seeded Knights (21-3). 

Sarah Brown was 2 for 4 with a double, RBI and two runs and Morgan Van Elderen laced a two-RBI single.

 Ripon Christian travels to Stockton on Wednesday to face No. 3 Millennium of Tracy at 7:15 p.m. The tournament moves to the double-elimination phase on Wednesday.