Steven Gigli went deep twice and Brock Swift tossed six shutout innings, but East Union needed a defensive gem to close out the Weston Ranch Cougars in a 4-3 Valley Oak League win Wednesday at home.
The Lancers (5-6, 10-9 overall) were finally able to finish off a determined West6on Ranch group when a botched infield ground ball found the hands was fired behind Weston Ranch’s lead runner caught in no man’s land between home and third, eventually being tagged out for the game-ending out.
East Union got a brilliant start from senior hurler Brock Swift, who came off his perfect game performance last time out and held the Cougars’ bats quiet for six innings. Swift would scatter six hits, four coming in the last inning, and stuck out ten to outduel Weston Ranch starter Tyler Scharnow.
Scharnow was as impressive, going six for the Cougars and matching Swift’s 10 strikeouts in his complete game effort.
“Tyler Scharnow did a fantastic job limiting us to the seven hits,” East Union head coach Dan Triglia said. “He struck out 10 and only walked one. He did a good job from the bump as well.
“It obviously took us a while to get to him there in the fourth and the fifth.”
The teams were intertwined in a scoreless battle until the Lancers got on the board with the first of Gigli’s two solo shots. He would add his second an inning later, giving the Lancers two in the inning as Alex Diaz (1 for 3) hit a homerun to leftfield.
Jared Ferrari scored a run and had a double for the Cougars, while Juan Ramos and Cody Simmerly also had run scoring hits for the Cougars in the seventh.
The two clubs will meet up for the final installment of the home-home series Friday at Weston Ranch, where the VOL matchup is scheduled for a 7 p.m. first pitch.
Kimball 12, Manteca 2
The Buffaloes did not do themselves in favors in Tracy Wednesday, dropping the first game in their home-home set in six-run, mercy-rule fashion.
The lone bright spot for Manteca was an Alex Martinez homerun to get the Buffaloes on the scoreboard in the embarrassing loss.
Kimball scored early and often, magnifying the importance of the two clubs’ final meeting scheduled for Friday.
“I expected us to come out with a little bit of urgency,” Manteca head coach Gen Ballardo said. “And I didn’t really see that. We’re still in a good playoff spot, but we are going to have to win these games and get this turned around.”
First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Southern League
Ripon Christian 5, Gustine 0
The Knights got a complete game from Kalvin Prins for a 5-0 Southern League win Friday.
Prins was dominant through seven innings, closing with a one-hit shutout.
The win improves Ripon Christian’s SL record to 10-2. The Knights overall mark is 11-9-1.
Sophomore
East Union 12, Weston Ranch 2
The Lancers got a complete game effort from pitcher Joe Menzel and offensive outbursts from Jeremy Turner (4 for 4, 4 RBI) and Brandon Ridgewell (3 for 4, 2 doubles, HR) to cruise to the VOL win.
Menzel struck out 10 in the win.
Manteca 2, Kimball 1
Dillon Lauborough went the distance for the Buufaloes, only surrendering two hits in a complete-game win Wednesday.
Brandon Manchester drove in a pair for the Buffaloes, while Alex Garelts and Alex Jorgensen tallied a hit apiece.
