East Union didn’t have much trouble dispatching of Lathrop on Wednesday evening at the Northgate Softball Complex.

The Lancers improved to 6-0 in the Valley Oak League and 15-2-1 overall after a 12-1 stomping of the Spartans (1-5 league, 1-14 overall) in five innings.

EU, which led 4-1 after the second frame, is sitting in first place atop the VOL after the first half of the season came to a conclusion.

During the second half of league play, the stakes will only get higher.

The Lancers are a game ahead of Sierra and two ahead of Oakdale. EU will starts the second half of its VOL schedule on Friday against Kimball Tracy at the Northgate Softball Complex at 4 p.m.

“That was a really good first half,” East Union coach Brian Goulart said. “Every game is a big game for us. We can’t take any days off at all. We can never slip and look back. We have to play well all the time.”

Just like against struggling Lathrop.

Savina Brandi started the first two innings and Michelle Castro closed the last three pitching.

“We gave (Brandi) a shot and gave her a little taste,” Goulart said. “And then we put (Castro) back in to shut it down.”

Jordan Vinson went 3 for 3 with two runs and Jillian Costa finished 3 for 4 with three runs scored. Claire Just went 2 for 2 and hit a double off the wall.



Sierra 18, Sonora 0

Sierra continued to stay hot during VOL play after a road rout of Sonora.

The T’Wolves (6-1 league, 15-1 overall) tallied up several hits.

Devi Coglio (2 for 3, 2 RBIs), Kendelle Messersmith (2 for 3), Julie Deanda (2 for 3, home run), Gabby Olmo (2 for 3) and Lexus Barnes (2 for 3, two doubles) all contributed in the romp.

Sierra senior Sommer Wilson went 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs. She also pitched the first two innings and registered the victory.

Iyana Hughes, Olmo and Barnes each pitched an inning of work for Sierra, who will have a conference showdown at home against Oakdale on Friday at 4 p.m.



Oakdale 9, Manteca 1

Manteca couldn’t avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time in VOL play.

The Buffaloes suffered a lopsided road loss against league contender Oakdale, who improved to 5-2 in the conference, 12-6-1 overall.

Manteca, which scored its only run in the top of the sixth inning, dropped to 3-4 in VOL, 9-7 overall.

Oakdale jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Manteca (three hits, 0 errors) held its own defensively for the next couple of innings. However, the Mustangs tacked on five runs in the bottom of four and two more in the bottom of the fifth to take a nine-run lead.

Manteca’s Aryanna Martinez, Nicole Magnuson and Selena Gonzalez all tallied one hit. Gonzalez (1 for 2) plated her team’s only run in the top of the sixth.

The Buffaloes, who are now sitting in fourth place in the VOL standings, will host Sonora on Friday.



Kimball 5, Weston Ranch 1

Weston Ranch couldn’t overcome a handful of errors during a home loss against VOL contender Kimball Tracy on Wednesday.

Elysia Hernandez, Summer Malone, Lydia McDonald, Arianna Hernandez and Mia Thurman each had a hit for the Cougars, who fell to 2-5 in league, 11-8 overall.

Thurman, who also pitched the complete game, tallied up the ballclub’s only RBI. Brianna White crossed the plate for the Cougars, who will next play against Lathrop at home on Friday at 4 p.m.