With school out for the weeklong Spring Break observance April 6 through 10, there was still some sports action for Escalon Cougar teams.

The boys varsity volleyball team earned a win, while the varsity softball girls were victorious as well, and the varsity baseball team took part in the Mark Dickens Tournament, winning two games and losing one.

VOLLEYBALL

It was a home match against Orestimba that went in the books as a win for the varsity volleyball boys on Monday, April 6.

“We beat Orestimba 25-14, 25-18 and 26-24,” head coach Alyssa Cogburn said of the varsity team sweeping past the Warriors, battling for the 3-0 win.

The Cougar schedule has them hosting Big Valley Christian on April 15 as they start to wind down the season.

SOFTBALL

Just one game was on the Spring Break schedule for the softball girls, with the varsity winning at Linden and the JV girls falling by a single run in the road contest.

Varsity head coach Lexy Underwood said the game on April 8 resulted in an 11-7 decision for the Escalon girls over the host Lady Lions, paced by a three-hit game for Lizzy Allan that featured a single and two doubles. Escalon roared out to a 9-0 lead in the top of the first and added two more runs in the top of the fourth. Linden had single runs in the first, third and sixth innings, and put four runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth.

In the circle, it was another standout effort from pitcher Tenley Adams, who got the complete game win. She struck out seven, walked two and scattered nine hits in the contest.

Escalon rapped out a total of 13 hits and scored plenty of runs to support their pitcher.

Along with Allan, Ari Velasco and Madi Babasa added three hits as well. Addy Lopez had two hits in the game.

Keys to the offensive explosion in the first inning were a bases-clearing double from Allan, an RBI single by Jessy-Lynn Kesler, a two-run single from Babasa and a walk to Jayci Trimble, forcing in a run.

For the JV girls, coach Letty Rodriguez said the team played hard and fought until the end, falling just a run short, losing to Linden by a 9-8 final.

Brooke Covello scored two runs on the afternoon while Hana Oliver had three hits and scored a run. Also notching hits and scoring runs were Kristina Mendoza and Avery Bartelink, with Kaylynn McCutcheon rapping out three hits on the day including an inside the park home run. Victoria Marrufo had three hits.

McCutcheon threw 105 total pitches in the game, 79 of them for strikes.

“They did an amazing job working as a team this game,” Rodriguez said. “They definitely played for name on their jerseys.”

The varsity and JV girls were both slated to face off in league play with Hughson on Tuesday, April 14.

BASEBALL

Traveling to nearby Oakdale for the annual Mark Dickens Tournament, the varsity baseball team played three games during the past week.

Game one was against Buhach Colony and Escalon took an 8-5 win.

“Zach Wells pitched six innings with seven strikeouts and two walks,” head coach Gino Franceschetti said. “Ethan Haskin pitched and got the save in the seventh inning.”

Offensively the leaders were Drew Hagan and Wyatt Riesenbeck with two hits apiece.

Game two saw the Cougars take on host school Oakdale and they lost by a 14-6 decision. Oakdale would go on to win the championship of the tournament.

“We had pitching trouble that day and struggled defensively,” said Franceschetti. “Brody Abbott led the team in hitting with three hits and Wyatt Riesenbeck contributed with two hits.”

Bouncing back for their third and final game of the week, it was a decisive win for Escalon, taking down Los Banos 9-1.

“Brody Abbott pitched a complete game with nine strikeouts and two walks,” noted the head coach. “Zach Langum had two RBI along with Brody Abbott.”

Franceschetti said the Cougars also were able to utilize several walks issued by Los Banos to score some of their runs.

Getting back to the Trans-Valley League schedule, the Cougars will host Hughson on April 15, then travel to face the Huskies on the road on April 17.

The JV baseball boys are scheduled to get back on the field when they travel to Ripon on Wednesday, April 22.

All Cougar teams will be playing this week, with track and field, tennis, and boys golf taking on league opponents as well as the baseball, softball, and boys volleyball squads.