TRACY — The first seven Ripon batters reaching base and scoring Wednesday was just a precursor of things to come as every Ripon batter scored at least two times in a 43-4 three-inning mercy-rule rout of Lathrop in a District 67 10U quarterfinal contest at Tracy Softball Complex
Robbie Nieweg led the Ripon onslaught, going 5 for 6 with five RBI, a home run, double and five runs. Troy Eskes (5 for 5, three RBI, double, three runs), Connor Paris (4 for 4, four RBI, home run, double, six runs), Calvin Vander Plaats (4 for 5, three RBI, four runs) Chase Rubenaker (3 for 4, two RBI, two runs), Trent Koolhaas (3 for 4, two RBI, double, five runs), Holden Peelman (2 for 3, two RBI, six runs), Jace Blanco (two RBI, three runs), Owen Degenstein (two RBI, three runs) and Bo Brayton (six runs) rounded out the Ripon attack.
Lathrop’s Tyler Guy walked in the first inning and came around to score on a stolen base and two wild pitches. Lathrop loaded the bases in the second inning with a Dominic Ramos single followed by walks to Jayden Hartley and Danush Gurram. The three came in on a Joaquin Reyes double.
Ripon faces Weston Ranch faces tonight in the semifinal at 6.
Manteca 9, Tracy 7
For the second time in as many games Manteca battled back from a five-run deficit for the consolation win Wednesday.
Manteca scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth on hits from Jacob Russell, A.J. Haines and a multitude of walks.
Down 6-1 going onto the fourth inning, Manteca scored two runs in the bottom of the frame. Austin Stirrat (2 for 2, three runs) singled followed by walks to A.J. Haines (2 for 2, two RBI) and Jace Reynolds. The two runs scored on wild pitches.
Manteca will play either Lathrop or Spreckels Park in the consolation semifinal Friday night at 6.
12U
Ripon 7, Tracy 5
Ripon scored five runs in the third inning Monday to cement the consolation victory.
Leading 2-0 going into the third, Ripon posted those runs behind hits by Ashton Smit, Deegan Vrieling (RBI, run), and an inside the park home run by Darren Vera (two RBI, two runs).
Ripon got on the board in the first inning when Henry Berger singled in Vera to make the score 1-0. Brae Mason singled to start off the Ripon second and scored on a Nathan Gonzales line-drive triple to center field.
Ripon’s Brendan Molloy doubled and scored a run.
Connor Maguire went three shutout innings on the mound for Ripon, striking out four with two hits and two walks. Vrieling struck out seven over the final three innings, allowing five runs – only one earned – on three hits and one walk.
Tracy led off the second inning with two singles and Ripon catcher Ezekiel Swier helped tame the Tracy attack when he caught a pop up and fired to first for a double play. Maguire struck out the next batter to end the rally. Tracy mounted a comeback with a four-run fifth inning, but Ripon held them off in the sixth to secure the win.
Spreckels Park eliminated Ripon from the tournament Wednesday night.
11U
Ripon 10, Spreckels Park 8
Ripon tallied two hits in every inning Wednesday night in the consolation contest at Salida Park.
Benji Sybesma (2 for 2) tripled to lead off the Ripon sixth which led to an important insurance run. Gio Sandoval went 2 for 2 with a double and two RBI and for the third straight game Easton Cloward was 2 for 3.
Ripon’s Jessy Vega started on the mount and went 2.2 innings, striking out two as well as hitting a two-RBI double. Bronson Dietrich closed the game out, striking out three batters in one inning pitched to seal the win.
Ripon faces either Salida or Manteca tonight at 7:30 in the consolation semifinal.
