With the Golden Empire League winding down next week, the Woodland High School varsity baseball team is doing all it can to avoid a second straight end-of-season stumble.

On Friday night against GEL rival Mira Loma, the Wolves (13-1 GEL) kept their one-game lead atop the standings thanks to an emphatic 16-0 win.

Crosstown Rivals Pioneer High School (16-2 GEL) kept the pressure on the Wolves with their own huge 13-0 win over Rio Linda, ensuring themselves at least a second-place finish. However, if the Wolves lose one of their remaining league games, the Patriots could sneak a co-championship out of this season.

The Wolves defeated Mira Loma and won their eighth game in a row in the process. Theyd wrap the game up in five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule by scoring two runs in the first, one run in the second, two in the third, four in the fourth, and a final seven runs in the top of the fifth.

They won the first two series games, 26-0 and 10-0, on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.

The Patriots won their 12 game in a row with their massive win over Rio Linda, completing the three-game series sweep on the road. They won the series’ first two games over the Knights 10-2 and 13-3 on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. Pioneer also defeated Mira Loma on Wednesday in a make-up game 26-0.

With their league season now complete, the Patriots will host a non-league tune-up game against Central Valley at home on Monday at 4:15 p.m.

Woodland High will have a busier week, with their final four league games of the season to play. They begin the week on the road against Dixon on Monday before playing in their final three-game series against Mesa Verde on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Their final home game will the game two of the series, on Thursday, in what will likely also be their senior night. All games are set for a 4:15 p.m. start.