The Lathrop Spartans showed the resiliency of a club that believes in themselves, clawing back from a five-run deficit to pull out a Valley Oak League split with Sierra with a 6-5 come-from-behind win Friday.

Lathrop righted its ship immediately after a dismal performance against the Timberwolves Wednesday, supporting a complete-game effort form pitcher Austin Plunk with two runs each in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

“I’m very proud of how our kids kept their composure and competed throughout the game,” Lathrop head coach Randy Baltazar said. “We hit some balls pretty hard, but we just hit them right at the defense.

“We knew that if we stuck to the game plan and competed we’d be in a close game.”

The Timberwolves (4-8, 12-10 overall) jumped out early, pushing across three in the second and two in the third behind a two RBI double from Rodrigo Contreras and an two RBI single from Dakota Connors.

The Spartans entered the bottom of the seventh trailing 5-4 and immediately got two runners on via a hit and a walk and Gabe Castellanos loaded the bases with an infield single. Ernie Garcia (4 for 4, 2 RBI, 2 runs) pulls a Connors offering down the left field line for the game-winning RBI.

“Ernie has been swinging a hot bat as of late,” Baltazar said. “When the opportunity arrived he was the right man in the right spot.”

David Fonseca was 3 for 3 for the Spartans, while Preston Rizo was 2 for 3 with a pair of RBI.

The Spartans will close out the VOL campaign with a home-home with Oakdale and Sierra will meet up with the Manteca Buffaloes. Both series are scheduled to get underway Monday at 4 p.m.

East Union 14, Weston Ranch 1

The Lancers wasted little time thrashing the host Weston Ranch Cougars on senior night, erupting for eight runs in the first ining and cruising to a 14-1 win in five.

The Cougars (2-10, 5-14) scored one on EU starter Jordan Kron in the first, but would not find another run. Kron tossed three innings, striking out four and surrendering just one hit. Kron also had the big hit in the first, smashing a bases loaded triple to clear the bases. Brock Swift was 2 for 3 with two doubles , Steven Gigli was 2 for 4 and Jake Danhoff finished 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles and three runs scored.

The Cougars will try and close out the season with a good showing against Sonora Monday and Tuesday, while the Lancers (6-6, 11-9) are scheduled for a non-league contest with Tokay in Lodi at 11 a.m. followed by a two-game set with the Kimball Jaguars, beginning Monday.

Southern League

Ripon Christian 17,Gustine 0

The Knights amassed 10 runs in their first two innings, shutting winless Gustine down in five innings in a 17-0 Southern League victory.

Colby DeVries went the distance for the Knights and faced the minimum, striking out 11 and not allowing a hit in the mercy-rule shortened perfect game. Ripon Christian (11-2, 12-9-1) banged out 16 hits in the blowout, with John Vander Molen, Chris Saenz and Dominic Nelson (HR, 5 RBI) all collecting three hits. Both David Henderson and Kalvin Prins had two hit games.