Trans-Valley League play got started for Escalon’s baseball boys this week, while the softball girls continued their schedule of preseason games.
On the baseball field, it was a successful week for the varsity boys, as they won both TVL games against Livingston. The league opener was on the road for the Cougars as they traveled to Livingston on Tuesday, March 12 and defeated the host Wolves, 11-8.
Head coach Gino Franceschetti said Lorenzo Texeira went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Logan Huebner was 2-for-3 with one RBI. Josh Fiori had a pair of hits in four trips to the plate with two RBI.
“Thursday we won 5-2; Greg Adams pitched a complete game only allowing one earned run,” added Franceschetti. “Josh Fiori had a big two out double that scored two runs.”
Texeira had two hits and an RBI.
The team then had the opportunity to Linden in non-league action, in a game at John Thurman Field in Modesto, home of the Modesto Nuts minor league team, on Saturday, March 16.
“We lost 11-8,” Franceschetti said. “We played our best game offensively, just made a couple crucial mistakes defensively that cost us.”
Jamin Miller paced the offensive attack with a 3-for-4 day with a triple; Fiori was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Jackson Runnels was 2-for-2 with a run batted in, Nico Franzia had one hit in three at-bats; the hit was a two-run homer.
“Overall, I was happy with the week,” Franceschetti said, especially with the pair of wins in league play.
This week, the TVL opponent is Riverbank, with games on the road Tuesday and at home on Thursday, March 21 with a 4 p.m. first pitch.
For the JV boys, it was a 17-1 win over Livingston on Tuesday, then a tight 11-9 victory on Thursday.
“Tuesday the boys played well and came out with a big league win. The bats came alive and we played very sound defense,” coach Carlos Herrera noted. “Thursday was another story; we jumped out and coasted, didn’t have that ‘finish them’ mentality, also coupled with multiple errors, both physical errors as well as mental mistakes, but we are young, seven freshman starters.”
Still, getting two wins in the first two league games is a good way to start the campaign, said Herrera.
Friday, they got in a non-league game against Oakdale and were shut out in that game, 12-0.
“We ran into a very good Oakdale baseball team,” Herrera said.
SOFTBALL
A win and a loss, both in non-league action, went on the books for the varsity softball girls this week.
They lost to Manteca by an 11-6 final on Tuesday, March 12.
“Madi Babasa kept us in the game but took the loss,” said head coach Caitlin Brooks.
The team did collect 10 hits, with two from Babasa, and both Jayci Trimble and Lizzy Allan going 2-for-3. Arianna Velasco, Allan and Violette Kent each had a triple.
On Thursday, the varsity girls got past Summerville by a 14-13 final, but it took a walk off single from Shelby Wilder to score the winning run. It looked good early, but the host Lady Cougars saw an early lead dissipate in the sixth inning.
“We had an 11-3 lead going into the sixth,” said Brooks. “Summerville came back and scored in the last two innings to take the lead.”
But Escalon ultimately prevailed with the walk off winner.
Genevieve Casazza got the victory on the mound, as she scattered nine hits, allowed nine runs and notched two strikeouts. Wilder made a relief appearance in the sixth on the mound.
Leading the offense was Velasco, 3-for-3 with three RBI, Wilder and Kent each went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
For the JV girls, under the direction of head coach Lexy Underwood, they got a pair of wins as they defeated Manteca 17-7 and doubled up Summerville 20-10.
The girls were to be home against Calaveras on March 19, after The Times went to press, and will play on the road Friday, March 22 against Orestimba.
