The East Union Lancers got seven strong innings on the mound and a bases-clearing double from Peyton Heath en-route to a 6-4 victory over Bradshaw Christian, earning coach Dan Bauer’s squad a berth in next week’s Sac Joaquin Section Division IV semifinal series against the Roseville Tigers.

“All year long, we’ve had the mentality to battle hard until the end,” Heath said. “We had some things go against us early, but I knew we wouldn’t give up as a team, and it felt really good to dig deep and get the job done.”

Friday’s win seals the fourth section semifinal appearance in boys sports (football, soccer, basketball, baseball) for what has been a historic class for East Union.

“Our success this year has 100% been the product of hard work,” said senior catcher Kirk Simoni, who also teamed with center fielder Jackson Fay on the football and basketball teams. “We love to compete, and each of these teams, while different, have all had that in common.”

The No. 4-seeded Lancers (21-8) had to play from behind against the No. 5 Pride (23-5) after spotting the visitors a run in the top of the first on some tough luck.

A leadoff bouncer over the infield put Evan Fujii-Sisler on base. Fujii-Sisler would then steal second before, coming around to score on a well-executed hit and run by Bradshaw Christian starting pitcher Ethan Quach.

It was the only run given up by Heath through his first four innings of work. The junior right-hander mixed speeds keeping Pride hitters off balance scattering just five hits while striking out six.

“Peyton has been the man for us all season long,” Bauer said. “This was his game to win for us, and he went out and gave us the performance we needed to beat a really good lineup.”

With Bradshaw Christian bats silenced by Heath, East Union broke through with some offensive of its own in the bottom of the third. Nos. 7-9 hitters Julian Ledesma, Ryder Tompkins, and Efren Diaz all reached base to start off the inning. After a Jackson Fay flyout, Heath came up with the biggest hit of the game, a three-run double to right to make it 3-1 Lancers.

“I was honestly just looking for a pitch to drive,” Heath said. “The first couple innings were frustrating we felt like we could have scored so it was a relief to get the offense going.”

Third baseman Brayden Camara followed up Heath’s double with one of his own, scoring Heath. Simoni would come up next and hit a changeup deep over the left field wall for a two-run homer.

“I recognized off-speed immediately out of his hand,” Simoni said. “I put a good swing on it, but I didn’t think I got it, so I hustled out of the box and was surprised to see it go out.”

The six-run third from East Union would ultimately be all the offense Heath needed.

“It’s a pretty well known fact that the top of our lineup is dangerous,” Bauer said. “But the best part about that inning is it started with really good at-bats at the bottom of the order. Those guys are getting an opportunity to contribute, and without them grinding and setting the table, maybe today’s game ends differently.”

After a shutdown inning from Heath in the fourth, Bradshaw Christian would get within striking distance, plating three runs in the top of the fifth highlighted by a two-run double by the eight-hole hitter Rome Maldonaldo.

Heath worked around trouble in the sixth, striking out J.J. Gazda to strand two runners for the Pride.

“We were in sync as a battery all game long,” Simoni said. “There’s trust there in that spot that we can make any pitch with two strikes, and he threw a great curveball to get us out of a big spot.”

Bradshaw Christian would create some more traffic on the basepaths for Heath and the Lancers to deal with in the seventh. A one-out walk and a two-out single put two runners on with the Lancers just one out from advancing. Bauer brought his infield together for a meeting at the mound.

“In that spot, it’s all about slowing down and taking a breath,” Bauer said. “I told Peyton this was his game to win, but we needed to get this guy right here.”

Like he has all season long, Heath responded by inducing a Max Wolf ground ball to shortstop Ryan Allen. Allen would range to his right and deliver a strike to second baseman Diaz to seal the semifinal berth for the Lancers.

“This is a culmination of four years of hard work for some of these guys,” Bauer said. “There is obviously more work to do, but to see them achieve this success is just awesome.”

East Union will get a chance to win a section title if they are able to win a three-game series against top seeded Roseville next week.

“We know they have some talented players and have had a great year but we feel confident we can compete with anybody,” Bauer said.

First pitch for Game 1 will be Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Roseville High School.