LATHROP — The Lathrop baseball team sent 11 batters to the plate to rally for seven runs in the fourth inning and blow open a close game against visiting Modesto Christian on its way to an 11-1 rout Monday.

Martin Valez drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning to enforce the mercy rule.

It was scoreless until the bottom of the third. Chase Hayes (2 for 2, walk, two runs) doubled and scored the first run when Shawn Cummings reached on an error. Estevon Salazar then crushed an RBI double.

The Spartans (3-2-1) took advantage of four straight walks, a hit batter and an error in the fourth-inning barrage. David Lopez highlighted the frame with a two-run double and capped the rally with a bases-clearing triple down the right-field line. He finished 2 for 2 with a walk and was hit by a pitch.

“We were able to make some offensive adjustments in the third and fourth innings,” Lathrop coach Randy Baltazar said. We were patient and drove the ball well.”

Cummings plated three runs and was the winning pitcher, striking out three over four innings. Lopez pitched the final two, and they combined for a four-hitter.

Modesto Christian (3-3) tallied its lone run in the fourth. Jake Stime drove in Joseph Yanez (walked) with a double.

SOFTBALL

Ripon Christian 11,

Stagg 2

STOCKTON — Ripon Christian (3-3) drove in five runs in each of the third and fourth innings to run away with the nonleague victory at Stagg (2-8).

Freshman Ariel Vander Woude (2 for 3, double, two runs) had the big drive of the game, crushing a grand slam in the third. Nicole Chapman, also a freshman legged out a triple in the fourth and finished with two runs and three RBIs. 

Katie O’Leary finished 2 for 4 at the plate. Pitcher Madison DeGraaf went the distance, scattering five hits while striking out nine.

Stagg held the first lead of the game after Alexandria Soria doubled in the opening inning.

BOYS TENNIS

Manteca 9 Lathrop 0

The Buffaloes (3-0, 5-6) rumbled to another shutout win, giving up just 10 games in the process.

No 2. Singles Si Hao Tang, No. 4 Yok Whai Ma, No. 2 doubles Jake Tolbert/Cameron Gonzales and No. 3 doubles Robert Foo/Niko Plares all won, 6-0, 6-0.

Solman Aniss took care of Chad Hoang 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 singles. Yok Eyh Ma (6-0, 6-1), Joseph Poncini (6-0, 6-1), DeAngelo Caldera (6-3, 6-2) and Dhillon Patel/Kevin Lin (6-0, 6-1) also rolled to sweeps.

“We stayed focused today and took care of business — no mental letdowns,” Manteca coach Frank Fontana said. “Everyone came out and were ready to play from the first point. Our goals don’t change and they are another team in our way.”