The Lathrop Spartans were finally able to put it all together, taking down Sonora on the road 10-7 for their first-ever Valley Oak League win Thursday.
Briana Lopez threw six innings for Lathrop (1-3, 2-8), scattering four hits and holding the Wildcats to just one earned run. Lopez also recorded five strikeouts in the win. Teammate Regina Juarez went 3-for-4 for Lathrop, driving in a run and scoring once, while Jocelyn Castro was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Alicia Erlandson helped the club by going 2-for-4 and scoring two runs.
“I’m so proud of our team today,” Lathrop head coach Christina Jones said. “The girls played nearly flawless and we were mentally and physically in the game the entire way.
“Defensively, we played solid and made the big plays when we needed to.”
Oakdale 9, East Union 4
There has not been a team capable of stopping the Oakdale Mustangs and that trend continued Thursday with the Mustangs handling the East Union Lancers 9-4 in Valley Oak League play.
East Union could not muster any success against the Mustangs early, collecting its first hit with two outs in the fourth on a two-RBI hit from Cherish Burks.
Tea Solario was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI and Kailee Nuding finished the game 2-for-3.
Oakdale banged out 13 hits, asserting themselves early and cruising to remain undefeated on the season.
“Oakdale hit the ball,” Lancers head coach Brian Goulart said. “They had 13 hits and all of those girls can swing the bat.”
Kimball 6, Manteca 5
After putting together a late-inning rally to take the lead, Manteca gave up two in the bottom half of the final inning in a one-run loss to Kimball in Tracy.
Selena Gonzalez tied the Buffaloes up with a seventh inning, two-RBI hit and gave them the lead when she scored on a fielder’s choice. Kimball would answer with a leadoff double, bunt single and another infield single to load the bases. Manteca would botch the play on an infield ground ball, delivering Kimball the victory.
“We lost that game at the beginning,” Manteca head coach Corey Navarro said. “We were flat and did not play well. We came back, never gave up, and then that happens.
“We should have never been in that situation had we played the game earlier.”
Gonzalez was 2-for-2, while Peyton Rose (2-for-3) and Anissa Gonzalez (2-for-4, run) also collected multiple hits.
