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SPARTANS SHACKLED
Ripon defense aids Mayer in shutout
BB--Lathrop-Ripon pic 5
Ripons Matthew Dedonatis is safe at second ahead of the tag by Lathrop infielder Ross Tisdell Jr. - photo by DAVE CAMPBELL/The Bulletin

RIPON — Lathrop got only four balls out of the infield Wednesday in its road game with Ripon, and three went to Andrew Durrer in right field. Durrer caught one for an out and cut down the other two runners at first base to help lead the Indians to a 5-0 win in non-league baseball action. 

“I practice throwing to first in practice,” Durrer said. “On a grounder that gets through I usually try to make the throw to first.” 

Ripon’s Jack Mayer allowed just one hit and struck out six in six innings of work and he did not allow a runner to second until he walked two in the sixth. Two runners reached in the fourth for the Spartans (2-2-1) when Ross Tisdell Jr. walked and Brian Baltazar singled, but Indians catcher Angelo Baciocco gunned down Tisdell Jr. trying to steal second and picked Baltazar off at first. 

“I felt pretty good out there,” Mayer said. “I had great defense, I can tell you that. Andrew Durrer dropped two people from right field. The catcher (Baciocco) was great – no passed balls. I think all in all we had a good day.”

Baciocco and Donny Cooksey were each 2 for 3 for the Indians (6-2) with Baciocco lacing one of a pair of two-RBI singles for Ripon. Nick Price had the other one and Sammy Souza added a double. 

 “I was trying to stay back on the ball because they were a little slow,” Baciocco said. “He threw me a curve and luckily I got a piece of it up the middle to knock in two runs.”

Luke Petker came on to relieve Mayer in the seventh and was victimized by an infield error and an infield hit to the first two batters he faced, given Lathrop runners at first and second with no out. But Petker bore down and fanned the next three batters, ending the game and the best chance the Spartans had to mount a rally.

“We came out flat today and we did not make an adjustment at the plate that would give us a good hit,” Lathop coach Randy Baltazar said. “I thought our pitchers did well pitching to contact but they capitalized on our walks.

“Tip your hat to Ripon. They were able to pound the zone and we are struggling with ABs.”

 

Sierra 7, Turlock 6 (8)

TURLOCK — Steven Rios capped a 4-for-4 effort from the plate with a two-out triple in the top of the eighth inning, and he scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.

The Timberwolves (3-2) had a chance to win it in regulation with a 6-2 lead in the seventh inning. Turlock (1-3) tied it up in the bottom half, with Chris Magana punctuating a four-run rally with a two-RBI single.

Jacob Peterson, Nick Oseguera (double, two RBIs) and Jesse Babauta each contributed two hits for Sierra, which totaled 14 knocks on the day. Abraham Velasco pitched the extra inning for win. Jon Temple went 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs for Turlock.