Injury-hampered Indians cruise into quarterfinals

RIPON - Third-seeded Ripon High closed its Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs first-round sweep of No. 14 Marysville with its most dominating game, doing so with its best player resting on the bench.

Third-seeded teams confident on the road

Sierra and Ripon have tough draws to start the Sac-Joaquin Section boys soccer playoffs, but they like to think that their opponents do, too.

T’WOLVES CONQUER CORRAL

OAKDALE - Sierra came into The Corral battered and bruised and left in even worse shape. But the Timberwolves had enough left in their legs to celebrate their wildly-entertaining 44-42 upset of previously undefeated Oakdale, and it was the legs of multi-talented Anthony Hall that made the difference. Hall's 40-yard field goal, which followed bombs from 50 and 45 out, with 1 minute, 21 seconds remaining was the game-winning score. He also returned an interception ...

Former Sierra standouts excelling in college

Jimmy Elam isn't just making up for lost time. He's improving it. The college senior and 2005 Sierra High alumnus is continuing tradition-rich Chico State's dominating cross country run in the California Collegiate Athletic Association and NCAA. Elam had to sit out the 2008 cross country season after transferring from Humboldt State, but his impact on the already-stacked Chico State men's team was immediately felt. He earned the CCAA Runner of the Year honor after ...

Burrows gets nod for Central Valley game

Manteca High senior Matt Barber is out for Friday's home game against Central Valley and could miss the regular-season finale on Nov. 13 against rival East Union after suffering a concussion in Oakdale last week.

WEEK 9 OUTLOOK

Valley Oak League Sierra (4-1, 7-1) at Oakdale (5-0, 8-0) • Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m. • Last year: 31-21, Oakdale • Key matchup: Sierra LBs vs. Oakdale RBs. Sierra's physical linebackers will be put to the test against 6-foot-2, 220-pound fullback Tim House and speedsters Devin Brooks and Blake Raham. The trio amassed 364 yards in a 35-23 victory over Manteca last week. • Closer look: Sierra made its first-ever playoff appearance last ...

Big plays, Oakdale stand haunt Buffs

OAKDALE -The big-play bug once again sank its venomous teeth into Manteca in a heartbreaking 35-23 loss to undefeated Oakdale at The Corral Friday, but the Buffaloes nearly overcame it along with the loss of starting quarterback Matt Barber.

T’Wolves clinch section playoff berth

Jose Montes' goal for Sierra's Valley Oak League match with district rival Lathrop was simple: No injuries, no cards.

T’WOLVES TAKE TITLES

MODESTO - Ceres High's Alejandro rambled through the finish line well ahead of Sierra standout John Bowers to win the Valley Oak League Championships individual boys title at Legion Park Wednesday.

Manteca can force logjam atop standings

The playoffs have unofficially begun in the Valley Oak League. For the city's two title hopefuls, Manteca and Sierra, it began Oct. 9 in the second week of the regular season. Sierra got the upper hand, 23-15. Manteca rebounded with a resounding 37-13 win over previously undefeated Sonora, which turned around and handed Sierra its first loss last week, 17-7. "There are so many star players in the league that returned this year, so I ...

WEEK 8 OUTLOOK

Valley Oak League Manteca (3-1, 5-2) at Oakdale (4-0, 7-0) • Kickoff: Friday, 7:15 p.m. • Last year: 31-14, Oakdale. • Key matchup: Manteca passing game vs. Oakdale defense. Manteca QB Matt Barber - 22-of-30 for 257 yards and four TDs over the past two weeks - has hit his stride after a slow start to the season. Continuing his efficient play Friday would help take pressure off RB Marquis Miller. Oakdale's physical ...

FALCONS FLY HIGH

The Falcons won the second straight MUST title by edging Neil Hafley in a three-game thriller - 25-18, 18-25, 15-12.

Sierra gets payback vs. scrappy Hawks

Revenge was going to come easy. It looked that way, anyway, especially after Sierra mounted a commanding two-game lead with a pair of 25-7 victories Monday against visiting Central Valley. But shades of their Sept. 28 meeting in Ceres began to take shape, as Sierra had to grind it out in four game. The Timberwolves (8-5 Valley Oak League, 13-6 overall) dropped Game 3, 20-25, before righting the ship in the fourth, 25-15. "I don't ...

RIPON PUTS UP A FIGHT

RIPON - Modesto Christian came into Friday's marquee Trans Valley League showdown at Ripon averaging 52.3 points per game.

24-LOVE

Jena Anderson tried to suppress her emotions after she and Sierra High No. 1 doubles partner Stephanie Vanni cruised to a routine 6-1, 6-0 victory over Manteca's Amy Kaur and Ali Tolman Thursday.

Elijah, Sierra 4x100 win preliminary heats at Masters Meet

ELK GROVE - Run the straightaway or walk the podium?

TRIPLE DOUBLE

The budding friendship between Carl Chandler and Lechi Nkwocha was first tested on the pitch.

Area’s Masters qualifiers taking aim at state berths

Twenty one area athletes will compete in the final Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet today and Friday, the last stop before the CIF State Championships.

TITLE HOPES SLIP AWAY

LODI - Manteca was one pitch away from advancing to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV finals for the second time in three years.

Ragsdale, Bradshaw blank RC

LODI - Austin Ragsdale is no small-time pitcher on a small-school team.

Brink is first EU player to qualify for state tourney

Will Brink didn't need a playoff hole to qualify for the CIF State Golf Championships, but he did need a strong finish to earn his spot.

SLEEPLESS IN STOCKTON

STOCKTON - Senior grad night and the always-pesky Kimball softball team almost got the better of Sierra in Friday's Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinal at Arnaiz Stadium.

Pain is gain for Indiana State signee Ortiz

That too-skinny and too-slow Nick Ortiz you used to know is now an NCAA Division I scholarship athlete.

Vander Molen shines in rare start for RC, but Bradshaw prevails

LODI – Ripon Christian's Danny Vander Molen was handed the ball for just his third start of the season Friday night.

STAYING ON TRACK

Phillip Herrera and Emmanuel Elijah opted not to join their senior classmates at Magic Mountain Thursday night.

Raiders rout T’Wolves behind Palazzo’s 15 Ks

LODI - Chandler Bengston woke up Central Catholic's bats with a loud two-run dinger that sparked a game-breaking, two-out rally.

BOUND FOR GLORY

Sierra High's 4x100 boys relay team broke the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV/V Meet record Tuesday on its home track.

PAST PLAYOFFS PAY OFF

STOCKTON - There was no fist pump. No twirl of the putter. Not even a smile cracked the face of the always even-keel Will Brink.

Sierra hosting section meet today, Thursday

Sierra High has built it.

RIPON WAVES