By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
SOFTBALL: East Union rallies past Sierra
Lancers erupt after early 3-0 deficit
Bulletin sports 2020-21
East Union's Bella Anchundo chases down a two-out fly ball in the sixth inning, shutting down a Sierra rally. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

Mack Nervis blasted a solo home run for visiting East Union in the sixth inning Wednesday to give the Lancers an insurance run on the way to a 6-4 Valley Oak league softball win over Sierra.

“Recently I have been in somewhat of a slump,” Nervis said. “My hitting coach and I have been working on keeping my hands inside and not trying to jack everything over the fence.

“When I swing normal I hit it better than when I swing for the fence.” 

In a three-run East Union fifth, Allie Parker doubled in Makayla Viri and scored a run that helped put the Lancers ahead for good at 5-3. Also in the fifth Savannah Wilkerson came home from third on a throwing error.

Kylee Gan was perfect for the Lancers (1-0 VOL), going 3 for 3, doubling in Bella Anchundo and scoring a run in the fourth.

“I’ve been working really hard on keeping my hands inside the ball,” Gan said. “Trying to drive through the ball and get base hits instead of trying to hit home runs and I think that worked really well for me today. 

“I was just trying to hit the ball hard and hit a hole.”

Lancers coach Brian Goulart was not pleased with his team’s effort, or lack thereof.

“We had no spark,” Goulart said. I don’t get it. We haven’t played since March 10 of last year. We should be so excited with fans everywhere along with the smell of cut grass on a beautiful spring day. This was not an East Union effort. We have some work to do to get to where we play hard. I would rather play extremely hard and well and not win the game than to play like we did today and win.

“Kendra Gaston got that big hit for Sierra and got them some runs. And I told our girls in the post-game that they need to run faster, throw harder and get dirty.”

Gaston looped a short two-out single to right field in to plate Vanessa Burrows and Jesse Beltran (2 for 3, double, run) to put the Timberwolves (0-6 overall, 0-3 VOL) ahead 2-0 in the second inning. Taylor Greenwood (2 for 4, home run, two RBI) hit a solo home run in the third inning and singled in Mikayla Guarasco (double, run) in the fifth. 

With two out in the sixth inning and Mackenzie Walden on second for Sierra and Brea Vierra on first, Breanna Tyler laced a towering fly ball to the fence in right-center fielder. East Union center fielder chased the ball down and kept two Timberwolves runs off the board. 

“We had an opportunity to come back and take the lead but we couldn’t get the right hits at the right time,” Sierra coach Don Hughes said. “We just couldn’t capitalize. But overall the girls played good.”


Junior Varsity

East Union 12, Sierra 0

Trinidad Forbing went 4 for 4 with a home run for the visiting Lancers.

East Union's Ari Mejia (stolen base) and Katelyn Sealana tallied three hits apiece.