Sierra was able to put together a strong 40 minutes half to close out its Valley Oak League showdown with defending champion Oakdale, but the Timberwolves’ first 40 minutes did them in during a 3-1 loss to the Mustangs Friday.

Sierra was outscored 3-0 in the first half, surrendering a goal in the game’s first five minutes and allowing another score shortly thereafter.

“They got a goal three minutes in and kind of set the tone,” Sierra head coach Manuel Pires said. “We got down 2-0 and then had a few chances, but just could not put it in.

“We looked dominant in the second half, it’s just that we are a different team when we come out for the second half.”

The road does not get any easier for the Timberwolves, as their front-heavy schedule pits Sierra against a tough Kimball club that has already posted a 1-0 win over Oakdale.

Golf

East Union 195, Lathrop 345

If there was a way to bounce back from a disappointing VOL loss to Oakdale Wednesday, a 195-345 win over Lathrop was probably it for the East Union golf team Friday at Manteca Golf Course.

The Lancers were unable to knock off the highly-touted Oakdale team on their course earlier in the week, but responded with five impressive scorecards on their way to the easy victory.

Will Brink earned medalist honors by shooting a 1-under-par 35 and teammate Jordan Duval came in two strokes behind him with a one-over round of 37. Evan Lewis (39) and Kyle Davis (40) followed Duvall.

Both Jordan Luund and Eric Lewis registered 44’s in their nine-hole rounds.

Lathrop was led by Corey Bakers 61.

Softball

Ripon 5, Escalon 4

The Indians used a two-run first inning to set the tone and fended off a late Escalon rally fro a 5-4 Trans Valley League win Friday at Ripon.

Ripon would score two in the opening frame, one in the third and sealed the deal with another two-run fifth inning. Darian Vandermaaten had a huge day offensively for Ripon (1-1, 8-2 overall), going 3-for-4 and scoring two runs.

Mackenzie Gauden and Nicole Kaiser handled the pitching duties, with Gauden striking out three in four-plus innings of work and Kaiser sitting down six by strikeout in two-plus innings. Kaiser closed out the Cougars in the sixth and seventh for the win.

Track

Lathrop vs. Weston Ranch

The Spartans were able to make it a clean sweep at the varsity level against Weston Ranch Wednesday, wining on the girls front 61-56 and taking the boys meet 81-46 in the Valley Oak League meeting.

Lathrop got a strong performance Saul Ruelas who took down the 10-high hurdles and the 300-hurdles. Ruelas was also victorious in the high jump. Gabby Vasquez, Erica Sanchez and Monica Brambila swept the top-three places in the long and triple jump, while teammate Sierra Downum won the mile and the 3200.

“We had a list of injuries this week and many kids stepped up and performed well today,” Lathrop head coach Krystle Davis said. “It was a couple great wins for our varsity program.”

Lathrop earned a split with Weston Ranch on the junior varsity meets, winning in the girls division 75-13, but falling in boys action 63-56.