TRACY — It is win-or-stay-home time.
Needing a win Sunday morning to stay alive in the championship round of the District 67 Majors All-Star Tournament against Manteca, Ripon exploded for six fifth-inning runs and escaped the bottom of the frame with the walk-off run on second base on the way to a thrilling 8-7 win. The two teams will clash for the championship game Monday night at 6 at Legacy Fields.
Drew Walker got the scoring parade going for Ripon in the fifth with a no-out two-RBI double, scoring Colton Roen and Dylan Walker (2 for 3, triple, double, two runs). Boss Gardette followed with a two-RBI single, plating Alex Girardi and Walker. Gardette scored on an error off the bat of Clark Fullmer and Roen singled in Isaac Stewart to make the score 8-7.
With Manteca leading 4-0 in the second inning, Trevin Koolhaas led off with a single and scored on Walker’s triple. Walker came in on a Girardi groundout to make the score 4-2.
Manteca went through three pitchers in the fifth inning, with Victor Nuno coming in to toe the rubber with one out and the bases loaded. Nuno through six consecutive strikes for the final two outs of the inning.
With Manteca’s Dominick Cotta up to bat in the bottom of the sixth with two outs and facing a full count, Cotta laced a single to right and was replaced on the base paths by Xavier Hardiman. An error off the bat of Austin Dundas landed Hardiman on third. Dundas slowly stole second trying to draw a throw to allow Hardiman to score, but Ripon did not bite and the game ended when the next batter flied out.
Logan Qualls (2 for 3, two RBI, triple, double, run) tripled for Manteca in the second inning and scored on a bunt single by Blake Scalise for a 1-0 lead. Manteca added three more in the second for a 4-1 lead. Harimdan singled and scored on a Charlie Rose single. Bode Hiatt (2 for 3, two RBI, two doubles, two runs) doubled in Rose and Hiatt scored on a wild pitch.
In the fifth inning Hiatt doubled in Dundas and along with Espinoza scored on a Qualls double to make the score 7-2.
