Sophomore striker Yandel Gutierrez took the lead nationally when scoring a first-half goal for East Union on Tuesday in the first round of the California Interscholastic Federation Division IV Northern Regionals at Aptos.

The fourth-seeded Mariners then broke away from the deadlock with five unanswered goals in the final 27 minutes of a 6-1 blowout.

Already missing a starting center back, No. 5 East Union (24-5-2) was further depleted in the back line by yellow-card bookings. The Lancers’ lone goal was assisted by Angel Medina and is the 53th of Gutierrez’s remarkable season. He also finishes as the national points leader with 121.

Aptos (11-1-3) heads to No. 1 Liberty Ranch tonight.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Willow Glen 65, East Union 59 (OT)

East Union’s best season since 1999 ended in heartbreak Tuesday night.

The upset-minded Lancers (23-9), seeded 15th, led for much of regulation before falling in the extra period of the NorCal Division III opener. Second-seeded Willow Glen (25-2) will host fellow Central Coast Section school No. 7 Los Gatos tonight.

BASEBALL

Lathrop 10, River Islands 2

Lathrop plated the first seven runs in the top of the first two innings on Tuesday before cruising to the non-league win over its intra-city rival at Islanders Field.

Sophomore Vaughn Sanchez was the winning pitcher, striking out nine while walking four over four innings. He and Tommy Hammond (three strikeouts) combined for a three-hitter.

Sanchez also contributed offensively, going 1 for 3 with two walks, a double and two runs.

Elijah McAlliser and Sacir Labra drove in three runs apiece. Labra finished 2 for 4 with two steals and two runs.

Freshman Jordan Cabral went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI. Jaicob Ewing scored twice.

Lathrop (2-7) capitalized on seven walks and four errors. Five of the Spartans’ runs were unearned.

Israel Fuentes hit a double and scored a run for the Riptide (3-2). Freshman Cash Orndoff and George Dayeh knocked in the River Islands runs.

Lathrop hosts the two-game set today.

BOYS GOLF

Central Catholic 209, East Union 211

The Lancers dropped a close Valley Oak League dual match at Dryden Park Golf Course on Tuesday.

Central Catholic’s Ayden Wildenberg finished at even par for low-medalist honors.

Cody Camarena finished a stroke shy of the leader and led East Union (2-1). Manuel Pres added a 39, Tiago Chadinha a 40, Chase Kalin a 42 and Anthony Oteri a 53.

COED TENNIS

Ripon 9, Linden 0

The Indians improved to 4-0 with the lopsided non-league win.

The most competitive matches came at boys singles. Matthew Tharakan fended off Giorgio De Macedo 6-0, 3-6, 10-3 from the No. 1 spot, while David Rodriguez edged Lucas Batteau, 6-4, 4-6, 10-8.

Brookelyn Betschart (6-0, 6-2) and Lily Meyer (6-1, 6-0) took care of business in the girls Nos. 1 and 2 matches, respectively.

Sweeping in doubles were boys No. 1 Joseph Tharakan/Emilio Machado Perez (6-0, 6-1), boys No. 2 Richard Vander Meulen/John Yeung (6-4, 6-3), girls No. 1 Sophie Douglas/Alyssa Lan (6-0, 6-0), girls No. 2 Abby Douglas/Molly Berger (6-0, 6-1) and mixed Joshua Sanchez/Emiley Wang (6-0, 6-1).