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Sonoras Canaday shuts down Lancer bats
East Union now must beat Wildcats ace Friday to split
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EU starter Brock Swift went 2 2/3 Wednesday, cruising through the first two and running into some trouble after a third-inning error help lead to a six-run Sonora rally.

East Union got to Sonora starter Karson Canaday with back-to-back hits in the first inning, but after that threat was thwarted the Lancers would not record another hit until the fifth. Sonora scored six runs in the third, and East Union was left coping with a 10-1 Valley Oak League loss Wednesday.

Sonora spotted its starter his insurance in the third when it broke open a 3-0 ball game with a bases-loaded double over left fielder Jake Danhoff’s head.

Brock Swift was able to match Canaday’s efforts over the first two innings, but a base hit, a botched double play ball and a hit and a walk and Swift’s outing was out of control fast. Sonora would bang out three more hits in the inning and all of the necessary damage was done.

Zak Lewallen attempted to reignite the Lancer lineup with a leadoff double in the fifth, but the senior catcher’s run two batters later would conclude any productivity from the East Union batting order. A Lancer lineup that was held to just six hits will have to figure things out in a hurry.

Although the challenge will not come any easier with Sonora ace Ryan Stevenson scheduled to take the hill in the home-home series finale.

“We just talked about that,” East Union head coach Dan Triglia said. “We get to face their No. 1 when we go up the hill. We have our No. 1 guy going too, so hopefully it will be a good matchup.

“And hopefully we come ready to play because we didn’t get the job done today.”

The Lancers will counter with staff ace Jordan Kron, leaving him with the pressure of trying to keep East Union’s postseason hopes realistic. A series sweep from Sonora would hamper East Union’s chances with challenging series against Sierra, Weston Ranch and Kimball still remaining on the schedule.

The Wildcats find themselves right in the thick of things, assuring that they will come into their final league meeting with the Lancers focused on a victory.

“Karson really came through for us today,” Sonora head coach Scott Johnson said of his pitcher. “We had some rain outs last week and had to play three games this week, so Stevenson went a couple innings on Monday and so we’re going to let him go again on Friday, which is actually nice. It doesn’t get any more exciting than this.

“Their No. 1 and our No. 1; Kron is an outstanding pitcher and I really want to see how we stack up against someone of that caliber.”