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Eagles seek competition in spring break games
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Ryan Leonesio of Turlock Christian tags a runner out at second base during Tuesday’s 12-2 loss to Livingston from Atwater’s Memorial Ballpark (EDDIE RUIZ/The Journal).

Bill York wanted to make sure that his Turlock Christian varsity baseball team saw some stiff competition during spring break that would transcend on to the baseball field in the later stages of the season.

York got that after Tuesday afternoon when his team competed in the Atwater Lions Fran Oneto Easter Tournament and faced two teams of a higher division in Livingston and Mountain House.

Unfortunately, they fell in both games, but against MH, the TC Eagles lost by just a run, riding a unique optimistic high heading into the final series of the season in the Central California Athletic Alliance.

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Markie Delgadillo of Turlock Christian finished the two-game series with a hit in each game against Livingston and Mountain House (EDDIE RUIZ/The Journal).

“When I looked at the schedule, what my mindset was a playoff atmosphere and good competition and fine tuning prior to playoffs, exactly what I thought when setting the schedule,” said York.

Following Tuesday’s results, TC is currently boasting an overall record of 9-10 and 7-3 in league.

That record has TC tied with Venture Academy for third place. Millennium (7-2) is second and Big Valley Christian (8-2) is currently in first place.

The Eagles have also dropped back-to-back games for the fourth time this season.

“We had success last year. This year…we had four physical errors and three mental errors that were costly, but in the second game we were mentally sound and played great game.”

Last year TC was 20-4 overall and 13-1 in league play.

They also reached the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-VII semifinals.

Half of their losses came in the final two games.

With 10 losses so far, TC has seen a different year and Tuesday was an opportunity to continue the progression of a veteran heavy squad.

“I have high expectations. With the talent on the team, we have not reached the expectations and underperformed. We are looking to crescendo heading into the playoffs and I believe with our talent we can go deep in the playoffs,” said York.

In the first game against Livingston Tuesday morning resulted in a mercy-rule loss.

Livingston had eight hits to TC’s five.

TC also surrendered seven walks and committed four errors in that game alone as they fell 12-2.

In the next game, TC outhit Mountain House, 10-4, but the hits didn’t come in crucial moments.

Instead the game remained close till the end.

MH notched two runs in the first inning, then TC responded in the top of the third with three runs to take a quick 3-2 lead.

Then in the bottom of the third, MH tacked on a pair of runs to secure the 4-3 win as they fended off the Eagles in the final four innings.

“Markie Delgadillo has been hitting the ball well and throwing the ball well and these tournaments we need many arms. Julian Espinoza started the second game and Markie came in to finish the first game, and most were stepping up, which is good to see,” said York.

TC will host Stone Ridge Christian at 4 p.m. Tuesday.