GUSTINE — On a night built around honoring the program’s veterans, the Gustine Reds delivered a late‑inning surge to defeat Modesto Christian 8–6 in a spirited Senior Night matchup.

Both teams opened with clean defensive frames, trading zeros through the first two innings as pitching set the early tone. Gustine broke through in the third when Eddie Lomeli ripped a double and Ryan Barcelos followed with a run‑scoring single to put the Reds ahead 1–0.

Modesto Christian answered in the middle innings, but Gustine’s defense kept the game within reach. In the fourth, the Reds recorded two quick groundouts before Alex Quezada ended the inning with a sharp tag at second. The fifth brought the biggest threat of the night for the Crusaders, who loaded the bases, but Gustine escaped with two flyouts and a crucial strikeout.

Quezada shifted the momentum in the sixth, turning on the first pitch he saw for a solo home run that electrified the home crowd. Frank Silvera drew a walk, stole second, and later scored on a sacrifice fly to extend the lead. The Reds then flashed their defense again in the bottom half, turning a highlight‑reel double play on a line drive and tag before another strikeout ended the inning.

Gustine’s decisive push came in the seventh. Joao Palomino and Sebastian Vargas opened with back‑to‑back singles, and Vargas stole second and third to set up a run. Avery Ethridge drew a walk and stole second, setting the stage for Quezada’s second home run of the night — a towering two‑run shot that capped the Reds’ Senior Night statement.

Gustine closed it out in the bottom of the seventh with steady pitching and a final groundout to seal the win.