In the final regular season track and field dual meet of the season, Escalon hosted Orestimba and both the varsity boys and varsity girls for the Cougars were winners over the visiting Warriors.

“There were some solid performances and even a few personal records,” said head coach Arend Jones.

It was also Senior Night for the April 30 meet, with recognition for more than two dozen seniors, including several that were four-year track and field team members.

Friday, May 2 brought the Trans-Valley League frosh/soph championships at Ripon High School.

“The young athletes performed well from Escalon and the girls won as a team,” Jones said. “The first time the Cougars track and field team has secured a team championship in 10 years.”

Some standout performances that helped the frosh/soph girls earn the title were freshman Georgia Northcutt, second in the 800 meters and pole vault; freshman Ava Rodriguez placing second in both the 1600- and 3200-meter runs; freshman Karyna Dalpogetti taking third in shot put. Also, sophomore Rachelle Barker was first in high jump and third in pole vault; freshman Ronni Keo was third in high jump; sophomore Carli Jones was third in long jump and sophomore Emilia Jimenez placed third in triple jump.

“There were also some very important fourth and fifth place finishes that helped the team with points,” Jones said. “The girls four-by-400 relay team secured the win at the end of the meet finishing first.”

The frosh/soph boys had some solid individual efforts, said the coach.

“Freshman Ian Trejo did quite well, placing third in both the 300-meter hurdles and high jump,” Jones explained. “Sophomore Jaecy Aldasoro placed second in shot put and first in discus. Sophomore Caleb Boatman placed third in both shot put and discus.”

Coming up this week, the varsity Cougar squad will head to Hughson High School for the TVL varsity finals; qualifying athletes then move on to Sections at Riverbank High School.

BASEBALL

With two wins in their final two regular season games, Escalon’s varsity baseball boys finished a solid third in the Trans-Valley League. They topped Ripon 4-3 in the first game of the week, April 29 in Escalon.

“We pitched Josh Fiori, Ian Burk and Brody Abbot,” said head coach Gino Franceschetti. “Not too much offense, just more of a pitcher’s duel. We were able to scrape three runs in the sixth and hold them off in the seventh.”

The regular season finale saw the Cougars craft a 6-1 win over Sonora.

“Brody Abbot pitched the majority of the game,” said the coach. “Not a lot of offense again, but we found a way to win.”

Escalon qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5 playoffs as the ninth seed, heading out on the road this week to face Liberty Ranch in a first round game. They were 9-3 in TVL play and went 15-9 overall.

JV – Hosting Ripon on April 29, it was a hard fought 7-6 win for Escalon. They scored two runs in the first, two in the third and three in the fourth, battling back after Ripon went up 6-4 following a five-run top of the fourth. Escalon had seven runs on five hits; Ripon had six runs on seven hits. Escalon’s Alexander Girardi and Dominic Rissetto each drove in a pair of runs for the JV boys in the win.

Their final game was on the road at Sonora, May 1, and the host JV Wildcats took an 8-5 win. Escalon had seven hits, Sonora had eight and each team committed two errors on the day. Cade Riesenbeck drove in two runs for Escalon.

The JV boys put together an 8-4 league record and went 12-9 overall.

SOFTBALL

On the road to start the final week of the season, Escalon’s varsity softball girls fell to the host Sonora Lady Wildcats on April 29. Final score was Sonora 12, Escalon 7.

They came home to face off with Hilmar on Thursday, May 1 and it was Senior Night, with recognition for Escalon’s lone senior on the team this year, Genevieve Casazza.

“I love playing softball in Escalon because it’s so tight knit,” Casazza said of the team. “I get to play for everybody that I know; everybody that’s here, I know them and I play for them. That’s why I play; that’s why I enjoy playing.”

It has been a tough season when you look at the wins and losses for Escalon at the varsity level, but Casazza said as is often the case, the record doesn’t tell the full story.

“We’ve kept each other motivated because we’re playing for each other,” said the senior, who played softball all four years of high school, both with the JV and varsity squads. “We just want to support each other.”

Casazza also got the start on the mound in the Thursday finale.

“It feels special and bittersweet because it’s my last time ever,” she admitted of being on the field in a Lady Cougars uniform.

The game was a 4-3 win for Hilmar, pushing across the go ahead run in the top of the seventh. Escalon scored single runs in the first, second and third innings; Hilmar scored one in the second, two in the fifth and one in the seventh. Casazza went 1-for-3, rapping out a triple on the afternoon and driving in a run.

Also collecting hits were Madison Babasa, Peyton Merrill, Jayci Trimble with an RBI, Lizzy Allan with a double and a run batted in, Kaylynn McCutcheon with a double, and Chloe Green drove in a run.

JV – A loss at Sonora opened up the week for the JV girls, falling in the April 29 contest. Sonora scored in the bottom of the first, then the JV Lady Cougars jumped right back in to the game in the second inning.

“Kristina Mendoza hit a sacrifice fly, Mia Bracamontes walked, and Gaby De La O singled down the right field line; each scored one run,” said coach Lexy Underwood. “In the top of the fifth inning the Cougars scored seven runs on just two hits.”

Ultimately, the game ended with Sonora edging out the JV Escalon girls, 14-13.

Keys in the fifth were Brooklyn Dugo getting hit by a pitch to force in a run while a Tyli Holback single drove in a run and a Riley Miranda double off the fence drove in three.

“Miranda led the team going 2-for-3 at the plate with three runs batted in,” Underwood said. “The Cougars were patient at the plate collecting a total of 10 walks.”

Thursday, Hilmar came to town for the season finale and upended the JV girls by a 16-6 final. Mylah Lehman drove in a run early to help tie the game in the bottom of the first inning; Victoria Marrufo was on the mound first for Escalon and struck out two.

Lehman, Dugo, Bracamontes, and De La O all had hits.

“Tough ending to the season, but the girls didn’t give up,” Underwood noted. “We had a lot of players that were new to the game, so it was a learning year. I am looking forward to next season and seeing where we will be.”