East Union and Lathrop split in the Valley Oak League clash.

Both won in dramatic fashion.

On Friday, the Spartans earned their first league win, celebrating 6-5 thanks to a walk-off single in the eighth inning by Santiago Kantun, who was the starting pitcher.

Lathrop (1-7 in VOL, 4-12 overall) fell to the Lancers some two days earlier on a game-ending bases-loaded walk.

 “Both of our pitchers did a good job of attacking the strike zone and throwing out off-speed pitches for strikes, which kept us in the game,” said Spartans coach Randy Baltazar following the walk-off victory.

His team jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead.

But East Union (3-5 in VOL, 4-14 overall) scored a run each in the third and fourth innings, and momentarily went ahead on a two-run fifth.

Marco Gonzales and Lucas Garcia, who was the Lancers’ starter, scored in the two-out rally, with Jake Graves coming through on a bases-clearing triple.

Joe Souza made it 5-3 Lancers, scoring on Garcia’s single in the sixth.

The Spartans tied the game in the sixth with a pair of runs to force an extra inning.

“Tonight, the ball fell our way and Santi was able to hit the walk off,” Baltazar said.

He added:  “We got on Garcia early – after the first, he was lights out. We tip our hats off to him because he really competed as did rest of the EU players.”



Sierra 10, Kimball 0

At Sierra, Jakob Gallagher pitched a five-inning no-hitter, striking out five and walking two. He faced 16 batters, or just one over the minimum.

The Timberwolves (7-1 in VOL, 13-4-1 overall) broke open a 3-0 game with three consecutive doubles by Gallagher, Nick Lucchetti, and Anthony Arrendondo.



Oakdale 7, Weston Ranch 0

Manuel Juarez tossed a complete game shutout, allowing two hits, striking out two and walking none for the Mustangs.

Oakdale (8-1 in VOL, 12-7 overall) also took advantage of three errors, including two in the second on back to back plays.

“Oakdale came ready to play and we didn’t,” Cougars coach David Hager said.

He praised the efforts of Mustangs shortstop Wade Branch.

“He made a couple of great plays,” said Hager. “Oakdale, as a team, is well coached and reliable with the ball.”

Weston Ranch (3-6 in VOL, 8-12 overall) was offensively by Spencer Hager, who was 2 for 4 with a double, scoring twice while driving in two runs.