ESCALON — The East Union Lancers came away with a thrilling 2-1 non-league win at Escalon on Tuesday.
Jack Weaver, who was pinch-running for Brayden Hardcastle, scored on a throwing error in the eighth.
At the time, the game was tied 1-1 when the Lancers (2-4) loaded the bases in the top half of the frame.
Mason James, who went 2 for 4 at the plate, had a lead-off single. He was replaced on the base path by Hardcastle, who, in turn, yielded to Weaver.
A stolen base by Weave forced the Cougars to intentionally walk Scott Morenzone. But then Gyse Hulsebosch reached on an infield hit, with Adrian Affelje setting off a series of events.
With one out, Escalon got the putout at first, but Weaver scored the go-ahead run on throw to home.
“We still had the bottom of the eighth to play,” said East Union coach Dan Triglia.
Enter Affelje, who came in relief of starting pitcher Marco Gonzalez. He allowed just one earned run to go with his nine strikeouts and five walks during his seven innings of work.
Affelje struck out two – both caught looking, according to Triglia – and had the putout at first to secure the save.
Prior to that, James’ RBI single in the third platted Gonzalez, who drew a walk and subsequently stole second.
The Cougars tied the game in the fifth after threatening an inning earlier. With two aboard, East Union kept Escalon from scoring thanks to Eric Flores diving catch in center.
The Lancers will travel to Ceres on Friday.
Ceres 4, Manteca 2
The Manteca High Buffaloes slipped to 5-2 in non-league action following a loss to visiting Ceres.
The Bulldogs (5-2) rallied for three runs in the fifth and held on for the win.
“I take my hat off to (starting pitcher) Haadyn Martinez and Ceres,” said Manteca coach Neil Mac Dannald. “They played clean baseball and made more plays than us.
“I liked our effort, as usual, but we didn’t make enough plays to win.”
The Buffaloes trailed 1-0 after the third but then posted a pair of runs in the fifth.
Martinez was the winning pitcher while Jake Menasco, who went six innings, took the loss.
Manteca had nine hits led by Kyle Rachels, who went 3 for 4 with a double and triple. Brett Kovacs was 2 for 3 and Ronaldo Tijero banged out a triple.
Austin Kabala was 2 for3 for Ceres.
Weston Ranch 11, Chavez 0
The Cougars broke open a 3-0 game in the fourth by exploding for eight runs at Chavez on Tuesday.
Weston Ranch (7-1) received solid pitching from Larry Martinez and CJ Drain, who pitched a perfect fifth inning in the abbreviated affair.
“Overall, we played sound baseball by throwing strikes, solid defense, and doing a good job of taking that extra 90 feet when we could,” said Cougars coach David Hager.
He was pleased with his team’s effort given the tough, windy conditions.
Offensively, Manuel Rubio went 2 for 2 with two steals and three runs to go with his double and triple. Josh Dilg, who returned to the diamond after playing on the school’s first-ever Sac-Joaquin Section D III championship team in basketball, banged out a triple and scored twice.
“It was nice having (Dilg) back – we’ve been missing him in center field,” Hager said.
In addition, Amier Bowen had a RBI single and Jordan Severin had two hits and pair of RBI.
Modesto Christian 6, Lathrop 5
The Crusaders held on for the non-league win over visiting Lathrop.
The Spartans (2-2-1) threatened in the top of the seventh, with Ross Tisdale’s run making it close coupled with the tying run being left stranded at third.
Prior to that, Lathrop rallied from a 6-1 deficit by scoring three in the sixth. David Lopez, David Gonzales and Albert Florez, who doubled, had hits in the frame while also scoring.
Diego Chavez scored for the Spartans in the third.
Santiago Kantun went six innings, allowing three hits with four walks.
The Spartans, defensively, committed six errors including three in the third.
Tisdell, Gonzales and Johnny McCuaig each went 2 for 4 at the plate.
Lathrop will travel to Galt on Friday.

Frosh
East Union 10,
 Livingston 0
Jose Alaniz went to 2 for 3 with a pair of double and four RBI to help lead the Lancers (2-2) past visiting Livingston on Tuesday.
East Union scored three in the first, six in the second and one in the third during the five-inning game.
Winning pitcher Anthony Contreras yielded just one hit in three innings of work, fanning five. Sammy Nieves had four strikeouts and issued one walk in his two innings of relief.
Evan Heath also helped out, driving in three runs.
The Lancers will travel to Livingston on Friday.