Roundup: Pitman, Turlock compete for CCAL’s top spot in Thursday’s crosstown rivalry
When Pitman and Turlock play, there’s already a little extra motivation. Crosstown rivalries bring that out. But then, when the game determines who sits at the top of the Central California Athletic League it adds an extra layer to the equation.
“The emotions are crazy,” said pitcher Boston Souza. “It’s a crosstown rivalry, the game is huge. Whoever wins is first in the CCAL and the series was split at the start.”
Turlock won the first game in extra innings. After the seventh inning finished with a 0-0 tie, the Bulldogs scored four runs in the top of the eighth while the Pride scored just one. The second game only had one total run scored. Pitman’s Mateo Garcia knocked in Andrew Balentine for the 1-0 victory.
Thursday, the Bulldogs (15-7, 9-3 CCAL) started early, scoring four runs in the first inning then went cold as Garcia settled in on the mound. Pitman (16-3-1, 9-3 CCAL) made it a game, getting within one run, but Turlock got timely insurance runs to win the rubber match 6-3.
The one constant in the series? Pitching. Each pitcher that stepped on the mound did his job as runs this week for either team were hard to come by.
“They have good arms, we have good arms, and I thought that both teams pitched really well throughout the course of this series.” said Pitman coach Andy Walker.
Said Turlock coach Sean Gilbert: “(Pitman’s) first guy was great, the guy that they threw at us on Wednesday two-hit us, so they have a great pitching staff.
“They have some dudes in their lineup that are lighting it up and our guys did a really good job pitching in all three games on them. So it was great pitching in all three games by both sides.”
Ultimately, with one game left, someone had to win the series and Turlock came out hot.
They put up four runs in the first inning, which helped Souza on the mound.
“When we have that insurance, it helps a pitcher and he’s not that nervous on the mound, and that definitely helped me out today.”
Pitman answered with two runs in the bottom of the first but only scored one run for the rest of the game. The score brought the Pride within one, making it a 4-3 game in after five, but that is as close as they got as they would strand the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh.
“We had our opportunities,” Walker said. “This whole series, we really had opportunities and just couldn’t capitalize on it. That’s the way it goes sometimes in this game, the ball doesn’t always fall your way and unfortunately, it just didn’t didn’t work out for us.”
Turlock added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Freshman Josh Ramirez laid down a squeeze bunt that scored Gannon Evans, who was standing on third after a one-out triple. Senior Griffen Sotomayor added a two-out RBI single to cap the Bulldogs’ scoring.
The two teams are tied atop the CCAL standings with one final league series each remaining the week of April 25. Pitman will play the league’s fourth-best team, Enochs, and Turlock takes on Gregori, which is in third.
Enochs 13, Modesto 0: Senior pitcher Titus Wheelock had eight strikcouts in the shutout win over Modesto. Eight batters combined for the Eagles’ (13-9, 6-6 CCAL)10 hits with Wheelock and Preston Brubaker leading with two apiece.
Gregori 6, Downey 4: The Jaguars (12-9, 7-5 CCAL) scored runs in the first, third, fifth and sixth innings to secure the CCAL win and lock up the third spot in the league. Downey (13-9, 5-7 CCAL) scored twice in the bottom of the sixth and once in the seventh but its comeback fell just short.
Orestimba 10, Mariposa County 7: The Warriors (12-8, 9-1 SL) bounced back from Tuesday’s 9-7 loss to split the season series. With the win, Orestimba took over second place in the Southern League behind Ripon Christian, which is 9-0 in league play.
Buhach Colony 12, Central Valley 2: Roman Aguinaga knocked in the Hawks’ (8-11, 4-6 CCC) only two runs in the first inning, then the offense went quiet. The Thunder had 16 hits in the game and Erik Munoz had a game-high three RBIs.
Denair 12, Waterford 1: The Coyotes (3-11, 1-9 SL) broke the game open in the second inning, scoring six runs en route to a five-inning win against Waterford. In picking up their first league win of the season, Denair earned a split in the season series.
Beyer 4, Davis 1: The Patriots (3-11, 3-7 WAC) earned a split in their season series with Davis Thursday. The win snapped a three game losing streak. All three of Beyer’s wins have come in Western Athletic Conference play.
Atwater 4, Patterson 3: After scoring two runs in the first inning, the Tigers (5-9, 2-6 CCC) tied the game in the bottom of the sixth and went on to force extra innings. Atwater scored one run in the top of the eighth and Patterson was unable to answer in the loss.
Ripon Christian 14, Gustine 0: The Knights (14-2, 10-0 TVL) made easy work of Gustine in the second game of their series. Eli Terpsma led the team with two hits, three RBIs four runs scored and three stolen bases.
Hilmar 9, Escalon 3: John King, Kazuki Mihono and Blake Petree each knocked in two runs as the Yellowjackets (10-6, 6-2 TVL) played the last game of their series with Escalon Thursday. Hilmar is third place in the league with one TVL series remaining.
Central Catholic 7, Sierra 0: Nolan Anderson only gave up one hit and struck out eight batters as the Raiders (12-7, 7-1 VOL) swept the Timberwolves in the VOL series. Fernando Alaniz led the team with three RBIs.
Oakdale 10, Weston Ranch 5: Alex Jones (3), Nate Criswell (2) and Landon Nunes (2) provided seven of the 10 Mustang runs in Thursday’s Valley Oak League win over Weston Ranch. Oakdale (12-6, 6-2 VOL) maintained its second-place spot in the VOL as Criswell, Devon Rogers and Lukas Cox combined for 12 strikeouts.
Livingston 6, Ripon 5: Ripon (11-8, 6-2 TVL) slid to the bottom of a three-way tie in the TVL, putting them in fourth place. Livingston won the season series 2-0.
