“El Toro” to his teammates and coaches, East Union senior Marco Gonzales was a nightmare for opposing clubs.
“When you have a guy who throws like that, you’re not going to lose too many games,” Manteca coach Neil MacDannald said following a 5-2 loss to the Lancers in the last week of Gonzales and the regular season.
Gonzales, who will continue his playing career at Menlo College, was voted the Most Valuable Player of the Valley Oak League after leading East Union (9-5, 12-12 overall) to its first Sac-Joaquin Section postseason appearance since 2011.
The Lancers’ pitching ace for the last three years went 5-2 in league with a 1.71 ERA, a save and 41 strikeouts in 49 innings. He also played both corner-infield spots and hit for a .415 average with 10 RBIs.
East Union ended up sweeping eventual league and SJS Division III champion Manteca (11-3, 23-7) to clinch a playoff berth.
“He was a big reason why we got back to the playoffs this year,” East Union coach Dan Triglia said. “Every time out he gave us a quality start. Whenever the ball is in his hand we were pretty competitive.”
One of his best outings came in a 2-0 loss to runner-up Central Catholic, as he struck out 11 in a four-hitter.
“The kids gave him the nickname ‘The Bull,’ or ‘El Toro,’ because of his tenacity,” Triglia said. “A lot of opposing coaches would call him a bulldog. He has that competitiveness and fire that helps him be so successful.”
East Union’s only other player to make all-league was senior pitcher Adrian Sevier-Aflleje, who made the second team. Ben Solorio (.489, 15 steals, 17 runs) of Oakdale was named Offensive Player of the Year.
Coach of the Year MacDannald had three Buffaloes voted onto the All-VOL first team: senior pitcher Tyler Graves-Kelso (5-0, 1.47 ERA), senior outfielder Ronaldo Tijero (.422) and junior right fielder Mitch Balmut (.386). Manteca’s young middle infield comprising of sophomore second baseman Kyle Rachels and freshman shortstop Alex Gouveia are on the second team.
Sierra (7-7, 13-10) has three all-league selections in sophomore pitcher Jacob Peterson (5-1, 0.80), senior infielder Steven Rios (.390) and senior utility player Anthony Arredondo (.475; 2-4, 2.94 ERA). Sophomore outfielder Chase Sperbeck and junior shortstop Tanner Peterson made the second-team list.
Weston Ranch (5-9, 16-10) had its best season in program history and was rewarded with two all-league spots that went to junior pitcher Manuel Rubio and freshman infielder Carlos Drain (.349). Senior center fielder Josh Dilg and junior catcher Larry Martinez made the second team.