By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
ROUNDUP: Mejia’s 2-run sac fly helps Ripon top Escalon in TVL softball action
Bulletin sports logos

ESCALON — Ripon didn’t need to hit home runs in its rematch against Trans-Valley League rival Escalon on Wednesday, but the threat of the longball made a difference.
Lilly Mejia managed to knock in two runs on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning, which propelled the Indians to a 3-1 victory that caps a season sweep of the Cougars and keeps their perfect record intact.
Mackenzie Hutchinson and Caitlynn Campbell each legged out a triple and scored a run.
Campbell, who knocked in Hutchinson in the second with a sacrifice fly, led off the fifth with her three-bagger, and Rhylee Magazinovic reached and then advanced to second on a throwing error after executing a safety squeeze bunt.
That was when Mejia blasted a deep shot to center field that was caught, but it was the most productive out in the game.
“We had some hard-hit balls, so they were playing us way deep (in the outfield) to keep us from getting extra-base hits,” Ripon coach Robert Vernon said. “It ended up costing them.”
Escalon (4-2 TVL, 7-6-1 overall) leveled the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the second when Brooke Campbell drove in Sage Davis with a hit up the middle. The run was unearned with Davis reaching on an outfield error.
Ripon sophomore ace Sydney Thomason continued her recent tear in the circle, striking out four in a five-hitter. She worked out of jams in the sixth and seventh innings to get the win and got some help from the defense.
After beaning the leadoff batter in the sixth, Thomason induced a flyball caught by outfielder Bianca Toledo, who then threw out the lead runner at third.
Thomason later gave up a one-out double to Marissa Gonzalez in the seventh but ended the game with a groundout and a popup.
Arabella Strach rung up 11 strikeouts for Escalon but walked six.
Ripon (7-0, 13-0) welcomes Hughson (2-3, 8-8) on Friday.

BASEBALL
C. Catholic 12, W. Ranch 7

STOCKTON — The visiting Raiders (3-4 Valley Oak League, 7-8 overall) built a 7-0 lead with their first four turns at the plate.
“We came out a little flat and didn’t have our best stuff on the mound, but I’m proud of the guys for not quitting,” Weston Ranch coach David Hager said.
The Cougars (0-5, 8-9) scratched across a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth and scored the rest in the sixth. Anthony Faulk went 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Austin Cappas drilled two triples and scored twice. Carlos Drain and Isaiah Maxie doled out two hits apiece. Amier Bowen contributed two RBIs.

G. Davis 7, Lathrop 6
LATHROP — Grace Davis (3-4, 4-6 overall) plated the winning run in the top of the eighth inning in the Western Athletic Conference affair.
Daniel Navarro hit a triple and walked twice for Lathrop (1-6, 1-10). Michael Pacheco also had a triple. They each drove in a run. Matt Julien pitched seven innings.
Grace Davis won the junior varsity contest, 14-0.

JV baseball
Oakdale 13, Manteca 12

OAKDALE — Manteca (0-1 VOL, 13-2 overall) took a 12-10 lead into the bottom of the seventh before the Mustangs cane back for the win.
Harley Boynton led the Buffaloes attack with three runs scored. Nathan Harnden, Amrit Dehal and Dylan DePrater each had RBI singles.

Freshman softball
East Union 4, Linden 3

Hailey Reich laced a key RBI triple in the sixth to help the Lancers garner a non-league victory Tuesday at Northgate Softball Complex.
Myresa Harper led the offense with a 3-for-4 effort. Alyssa Clapp went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Brooke Grabowski went the distance from the chalked circle, striking out six. She was also 2 for 3 with a walk at the plate.

East Union 15, Millennium 4
Reich was a triple away from hitting for the cycle Wednesday at Northgate Softball Complex, finishing 3 for 4 with a grand slam and five RBIs.
Clapp was 3 for 3 with a solo homer. Sophia Torrice drove in two runs and went 2 for 4. Kimberley Wlodarczyk pitched all five innings and struck out six.