East Union’s three seniors each had their moments in their final high school game Tuesday at Northgate Softball Complex, but two underclassmen stole the show in a 5-0 upset of playoff-bound rival Manteca.
Freshman Sienna Owen crushed a three-run homer in the fourth inning, and sophomore Lily Pickering pitched a shutout.
“We’re missing the playoffs and we had a lot less to lose, but it’s still a rivalry game,” East Union coach Matt Cooper said. “These girls are friends, and it’s nice to have bragging rights no matter what the records are.”
Owen finished 2 for 3, as did senior Dillan Blevins. Leah Alstandt went 2 for 2 with a run and an RBI. Alabama State signee Mackenzie Nervis drew a pair of walks, and the catcher threw out a runner stealing.
Owen’s blast highlighted a four-run rally. East Union (3-7 Valley Oak League, 13-10 overall) scratched across the first run in the third, as Mikayla Simpson executed a squeeze bunt that plated courtesy runner Sophia Bretao.
Pickering gave up six hits and three walks while striking out four.
Manteca (6-4, 15-6) had chances to break through but left 10 runners on base.
Pitcher Nayellys Torres, who recently signed with Dominican University, went the distance for the Buffaloes and amassed 10 strikeouts. Only one of the five runs was earned.
Torres also had a double at the plate. Sienna Lowery and Lauren Moncada added two hits apiece.
Manteca goes into postseason play having dropped three of its last four. The Sac-Joaquin Section will release brackets on Friday.
Ripon 3, Riverbank 2 (8)
The Indians (10-0, 16-5 overall) capped their Trans-Valley League schedule with a walk-off win, as Jaycee Wilmshurst knocked in Addyson Wilmshurst with a double in the eighth inning. Addyson led off with a hit and stole second, finishing 2 for 3 with two runs.
Kharime Caratachea pitched all eight innings and fired 14 strikeouts. She gave up one earned run on five hits and no walks. At the plate, she went 2 for 3.
Addison Naranjo contributed a triple, an RBI and a run.
Mountain House 2, Lathrop 0
Lathrop (8-6, 13-8 overall) dropped the Western Athletic Conference finale but still had its best season in program history.
Senior Ariana Fuentes belted one of the Spartans’ two hits and pitched three scoreless and hitless innings, striking out four.
Sophomore Maci De Costa pitched the first three innings, and Tatianna Lopez accounted for Lathrop’s other hit.
Luna Lopez struck out 14 in a two-hitter for Mountain House (8-6, 13-8).
Denair 22, Ripon Christian 9 (5)
The visiting Coyotes (5-8, 7-12 overall) rallied for 10 runs in the second inning and added eight more in the fifth to end the Southern Athletic League contest with five innings.
Ally Brown led the Ripon Christian (4-9, 4-15) attack, going 2 for 3 with two runs and an RBI. Alanna Blanco hit a triple and scored twice.
Junior varsity
Mountain House 28, Lathrop 16
Alina Ledezma led Lathrop at the plate, going 2 for 2 with two runs scored and two walks.
Aaliyah Roberts drew three walks, had a hit and scored one.
Juliana Marquez (two RBIs, run, two walks), Kalea Rogers (run) and Charlotte Serrano (walk, two runs) added one hit apiece.
