The East Union softball lineup is top-heavy — in a good way.
Michelle Castro, Deja Guzam and Sam Owen bat one through three for the Lancers, and they were a combined 7 for 9 Thursday with two home runs, four RBI and six runs in a 9-0 win over visiting Tracy at Northgate Softball Complex.
Castro singled to start the East Union first, took second on Deja Guzman’s sacrifice and came home when Sam Owen blasted the ball over the left-center field fence.
“This is a different season because we lost some key players,” said Owen, who was 3 for 3 with a home run and three RBI. “But I think we’re going to do just fine.
“I think we want to prove to everyone that even though we lost those key players we are going to be tough.”
Castro was 3 for 4 and had a solo home run in the sixth inning.
“I was just feeling it,” Castro said. “We have a good team and I have a lot of confidence with them and it shows when I am up to bat. I have a good hitter behind me in Deja (Guzman) and another behind her in Sam (Owen).
“We are doing good so far and I am having fun for my senior year coming out and having a blast with my best friends.”
The only inning the Lancers (4-0) went down in order was the second. In the third inning Castro, Guzman, Owen and Taylor Ward laced consecutive singles with Owen plating Castro, and Ward knocked in Guzman.
Kristina Mojica doubled in the fourth, took third on Allison Tajii’s sacrifice bunt that was misplayed, allowing Mojica to score. Tajii scored on a fielder’s choice by and Guzman stole home on a delayed steal when Owen stole second.
Following Castro’s sixth-inning home run, Guzman walked and came in to score on a single by Owen.
“The top of the order is all seniors and they are hungry,” East Union coach Brian Goulart said. “They are fun to watch. Every at-bat is a warrior at-bat and even the outs are hard lineouts. It is amazing.
“So a challenge went out to the other girls when I told them they can’t let the top of the order have all the fun.”
Mojica took Goulart’s advice. Batting No. 7, the junior lined two shots to deep center field for doubles.
“Mojica hit two off the wall,” Goulart said. “She tweaked her knee a bit though and we are hoping it is nothing serious.”
Delaney Pamplin pitched through the fourth for the Lancers, holding the Bulldogs (1-1) to two hits while striking out three and walking three. Mikayla Bongi came on in the fifth and struck out the first six batters she faced and had three perfect innings of relief.
“I like pitching under the lights,” Bongi said. “I like that a lot.”
GOLF
Ripon 236, Orestimba 298
PATTERSON — Freshman Connor Larkin carded a 2-over 38 in a nonleague match at Diablo Grande Golf & Country Club.
Rhet Herrin and Trent Hawes turned in solid scores of 45 and 46, respectively. Luis Candido and Cole Stevens finished with a 53 and 54. The Indians (3-1) have bounced back from its Trans-Valley League opening loss earlier in the week with back-to-back wins.
“Coming off a Hughson loss in which everybody played poorly, the team has responded well the last two matches,” Ripon coach Chris Musseman said. “Connor Larkin had a really good day today. It’s kind of how he’s been playing in practice, so it’s nice to see him get it back together.”
BASEBALL
Sierra 6, Turlock 4
TURLOCK — The Timberwolves (2-2) battled back from an early two-run deficit and scored one in each of the fifth and sixth innings to escape victorious.
Anthony Arredondo accounted for two of Sierra’s six base hits and was the starting pitcher. He was replaced in the bottom of the fourth, when Turlock (1-2) tied it at 4-4 with two runs, by Jaden Pina, who got the win in relief.
