CERES — East Union’s baseball team is getting a needed break after holding off Ceres for a 7-6 non-league victory Thursday.
The Lancers (5-2) led 7-2 before Ceres (1-7) rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Andrew Morones secured the win for East Union, getting his second save in as many days. The game was the club’s seventh in 11 days.
“We’ve had a lot of games in a short amount of time,” East Union coach Gene Ballardo said. “I thought the kids did a good job of hanging in there today to come out with the victory. We’re looking forward to a little bit of a break and much-needed practice time.”
East Union travels to Pitman next Tuesday.
Sophomore Carlos Alvarez pitched five innings for the win at Ceres, finishing with five strikeouts. He surrendered one earned run on six hits and two walks.
Andrew Mount highlighted the offense with a two-run homer. Daniel Ruiz and Morones each went 2 for 4.

Sierra 11, McNair 0
STOCKTON — The Timberwolves (6-1-1) bounced back from their first loss of the season with a dominant five-inning win.
Steven Eaves and Deshon Thomas each belted two-run doubles. Sierra had five doubles in all, with Franky Vela, Jason Silva and Tyler Kiser hitting the rest.
Sophomore Zion Bell started on the mount in the combined two-hitter, logging three innings. Jesse Ortiz-Martinez and Jimmy Taylor took it from there.

SOFTBALL
Ripon Christian 14, Denair 1
RIPON — The Knights (1-0, 5-0 overall) started Southern Athletic League play with a bang, as Elizabeth Thomas crushed a grand slam. She finished 2 for 2 with five RBIs and three runs.
Sarah Brown batted 2 for 3 with a triple and was the winning pitcher after giving up four hits and an unearned run over five innings.  Madison de Graaf and Morgan Van Elderen each contributed two hits and three runs. Ariel Vander Woude was 2 for 2 with two RBIs.

TENNIS
Kimball 9, East Union 0
TRACY — The Lancers were shut out by the defending Valley Oak League champion.
No. 4 singles player Tarunjit Singh nearly ruined Kimball’s clean sweep but came up short against Brandon Basto, 6-7 (9), 4-6.

GOLF
Ripon 198, Riverbank DQ
RIPON — Nico Ilardi finished 1-over 32 to lead Ripon’s TVL win at Jack Tone Golf Course.
Rigo Rocha carded a 35 for Riverbank, which did not have enough players to field a full team. Rounding out scoring for the Indians: Cade McCusker (37), Gage Anderson (40), Kenny Johnson (44) and Dalton Taberna (45).

JV baseball
East Union 6, Ceres 0
CERES — Willie Segura fires 12 strikeouts over six innings, and Jordan Barnes closed out the combined two-hit gem for the Lancers (5-3).
Anthony Flores (two runs) and Benjamin Slaughter (double, two RBIs) both went 2 for 3 to lead the offense.

Sierra 13, McNair 0
STOCKTON — Brendan Rapisura drove in four runs and plated three while going 3 for 3 at the plate.
Zach Fonseca went 2 for 2 with four RBIs, while Jordan Ordaz was 2 for 3 with a double.
Ordaz also struck out six and went the distance in the five-inning affair.