East Union started its Valley Oak League baseball schedule with a bang Tuesday, as Austin Orr bashed a walk-off grand slam to overtake visiting Central Catholic, 5-3.
Both offenses busted out in the final inning after Lancers ace Willie Segura and Central Catholic’s Tyler Van Dyke pitched masterfully for the first six.
“It was a flat-out battle,” East Union coach Carlos Herrera said. “They were matching each other pitch for pitch.”
The Raiders (0-1, 1-1 overall) jumped ahead 3-1 in the seventh inning, getting doubles from Reece McMillan and Kyle Naranjo. Joel Roberts capped the rally with an RBI single.
JP Perazzo reached on a one-out error to get the Lancers going in the home half of the seventh, and the bases were soon loaded with back-to-back walks.
Orr entered the batter’s box after striking out in each of his three previous at-bats but redeemed himself with one powerful swing. He worked a 1-2 count against freshman TP Wentworth and drilled the next offering to straightaway center.
“Our batting coach Kris Hensley and I talk about it all the time, that it doesn’t matter what you did in your last 10 at-bats,” Herrera said. “That was a snapshot of everything we’ve been preaching. Austin had the confidence in himself and he tore the roof off the place.”
East Union plated its other run in the fourth, when Anthony Flores drove in Mateo Guevara with a double.
Van Dyke and Wentworth mostly had the Lancers guessing at the plate, combining for 14 strikeouts while scattering six hits. Segura struck out six and walked three over 6 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on four hits.
“It’s a testament to how well Willie pitched,” Herrera said. “Van Dyke is a heck of a pitcher and he kept us at bay for most of the game. Willie pitched through all of that and dealt for us. He put us on his back.”
The two teams meet again today at Central Catholic.
Weston Ranch 9, Escalon 3
Host Weston Ranch rallied for three runs in the first inning, and rode junior pitcher Dustin Tinsley in the season-opening victory.
Tinsley fanned eight Escalon batters in five innings, surrendering one earned run. Sophomore Alejandro Piedra (1 1/3 innings) and freshman Ayden Tinsley took it the rest of the way, and the pitching trio gave up only four hits.
Dustin Tinsley was also 3 for 4 with a double at the plate. Andrew Montano scored twice.
“We did some good things today, came out and competed” Weston Ranch coach David Hager said. “For our first game despite not having much experience or practice time I’m very pleased that we came out and played with energy, but I would like for us to finish better.”
BOYS TENNIS
East Union 8, Escalon 0
The host Lancers swept all six singles matches and won two at doubles via forfeit. Neither team fielded a third doubles team.
Earning wins for East Union were No. 1 singles player Matthew Trinidad (6-0, 6-3) followed by Kelton D’Souza (6-1, 6-4), Daniel Ngo (6-4, 6-3), Matthew Mendoza (6-2, 6-1), Tristan Santos (6-2, 6-2) and Dominic Ochoa (6-0, 6-0).
