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Indians throttle Riverbank while Huskies handle MC
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RIVERBANK — The Indians went about their business with an eye on Hughson Wednesday, and Ripon was rewarded with a pair of victories, an 18-1 throttling of the Bruins, and a 4-3 Modesto Christian loss at the hands of the Huskies.

The MC loss sets up a do-or-die scenario for the slumping Crusaders Friday.

If MC beats Hughson at home, the Crusaders are moving on to the postseason.

If MC loses and Ripon picks up an expected win over Riverbank today at home, the Indians are playoff bound.

“We had someone in Hughson,” Ripon skipper Mark Whelan said. “We knew what we needed to do; we got a six-run second and just went from there. It was a solid effort.”

Colby Gomes ignited the visitors in the decisive second, blasting a grand slam to make it 7-0.

Gomes finished the day 2 for 3, and Kyle Wagner added a two-run shot in the third.

Alex Gustin was perfect from the plate, going 3 for 3 with three runs scored.

Ripon had 13 hits, all told.

Hayden Koch got the start and was outstanding, lasting all five and allowing just three hits while striking out six.

Hughson beat the Crusaders 4-3 with a walk-off home run.

Modesto Christian (8-6 TVL) has now lost two in a row and seven of its last 10.

Ripon (8-6 TVL) has won seven of its last 10.

The Indians fire it up with Riverbank at 4 p.m.

Escalon 12, Ripon Christian 1
The undefeated Cougars remained that way with a big win at the Knights’ park.

Clayton Prins struck out two, Robert Hull rung up another, and Darin Castro closed it out with one strikeout.

All four hurlers allowed four to cross.

Hull scored RC’s lone run on an error in the fifth.

Robert Devries was 1 for 2, and Matt Unruh was 1 for 3 with a stolen base.

RC closes the season with a road trip to Escalon Friday.
— Brandon Petersen