NO HOLIDAY BREAK FOR TIMBERWOLVES

The Sierra Timberwolves have reason to be thankful. The Sac-Joaquin Section's third-seeded Division III playoff team will celebrate Thanksgiving with practice starting at 9 this morning. Sierra (10-1) is preparing for its second-round matchup with No. 6 Benicia (9-2). Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium. After qualifying for the section playoffs for the first time in its 14th varsity season in 2008, head coach Jeff Harbison is grateful that his ...

EAST UNION OPENS WITH WIN

Shalane Jackson gave a nice glimpse of what to expect from her sophomore season, leading East Union High to a season-opening 49-34 win over the visiting Bear Creek Bruins Wednesday at the Dalben Center.

Seven area players on all-TVL team

The loss of record-holding goal scorer Eric Cavanaugh had little effect on Ripon this season. The Indians repeated their third-place finish in the Trans Valley League, set a new program record with 21 single-season overall victories and five players were named to the all-conference first team. Rival Ripon Christian had two players named to the first team. Senior Matty Gay and freshman Arik Anaya picked up where Cavanaugh left off. Gay, who holds the frosh-soph ...

END OF THE ROAD

RIPON - Ripon Christian showed it more than deserved its berth into the CIF Northern California Division V State Volleyball Championships, yet the Knights were unable to extend their magical season after a four-game loss (11-25, 25-22, 13-25 and 18-25) to Castilleja of Palo Alto.

Ripon hosting second-round match after easy win

COTTONWOOD - The trip ended up being much longer than the match. Ripon did what was expected in a four-game victory (25-23, 25-14, 16-25, 25-22) over North Section champion West Valley to open the Northern California Regional Division IV Championships Tuesday. Head coach Larry Keethe wasn't too happy with his team's effort in the third game, however. "They were pretty much packed up and ready to go home," he said. Fortunately for the Indians (38-10), ...

Cougars drop season opener to McNair

STOCKTON – The Weston Ranch Cougars had a strong sense of how they wanted their season to get underway, but the McNair Eagles had a different agenda beating the Cougars 54-50 in both teams' season opener.

Ripon teams return to NorCal tourney with high hopes

Tiger Shelton sees Ripon Christian's first-round draw in the CIF State Northern California Championships as a good news-bad news proposition.

EAST UNION FALL AWARDS

BUFFALOES BUCKLE LATE

Friday's Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoff opener between No. 8 Manteca and No. 9 Casa Roble at Guss Schmiedt Field didn't start out to be the game it was anticipated to be.

Sierra cruises into quarterfinal round

It was business as usual Friday for Sierra High. In the opening round of the Sac-Joaquin Division III section playoffs, the No. 3 Timberwolves simply overpowered No. 14 Mira Loma of the Capital League at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium, rolling to a 59-6 win. "We just asked for intensity coming into this game," Sierra coach Jeff Harbison said. "I'm proud of the fact we were able to do just that." Business as usual included fullback ...

Turnovers, sloppy field doom Ripon in anticipated rematch

TUOLOMNE - They call it the great equalizer. After Summerville its only loss of the season in a Week 2 non-league contest, soggy conditions at Thorstead Field turned the tables on Ripon Friday. The host Bears avenged the earlier defeat with a 33-0 shocker, knocking Ripon out of the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV-B playoffs. While the inclement weather did not help, it was not an excuse made by Ripon head coach ...

EASY AS 1-2-3

DAVIS - Ripon Christian had not lost a postseason game, let alone a match, leading up to its Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship-round meeting against top-seeded Bradshaw Christian.

Ripon falls to Christian Brothers again

DAVIS - Ripon has proven time and again that it can beat Christian Brothers. The Indians just haven't. Their best chance to do so may have been Thursday in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship match at UC Davis. Down two games, the No. 3 Indians turned a quick and disappointing sprint into a riveting five-game marathon but fell short - 14-25, 20-25, 25-14, 25-23, 12-15. Ripon was on the cusp of winning the program's ...

Manteca set to do battle with defending champs

Eric Reis is a fan of the Sac-Joaquin Section's new playoff format. Last year, his Manteca Buffaloes went 8-2 but missed the postseason after finishing third in the Valley Oak League, and it just so happened to be the year that the conference was allotted just two berths. Back in the postseason for the fifth time in six years, Manteca (7-3) is itching to get back to a fifth section final game this decade. The ...

Third-seeded Sierra returns to playoffs with title hopes

Sierra will venture into familiar territory Friday when the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs kick off but will wear an unfamiliar target on its back.

BEST OF THE BEST

Allie Walljasper has already won two section titles, three Valley Oak League MVP awards, two VOL crowns and was named this year's all-league Pitcher of the Year for the first time.

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.

Lamont impacted Lancers

Limping, Kianna Lamont entered the game in the eighth minute and nearly changed East Union's fortune with one good leg.

Ragsdale, Bradshaw blank RC

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

Tough Goodbye

Jim Todd took a moment to himself to wade through the emotions following a season-ending loss to Colfax.

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.

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.

RC facing powerhouse in first section final

RIPON – Kevin Tameling remembers a time not so long ago when Ripon Christian was all heart with little results.

STAYING ON TRACK

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

Ripon ends season with playoff loss to Marysville

STOCKTON – Nicole Kaiser performed like she had a ticket to play Division I softball on Thursday.

Face the ‘Fax: EU ousted

Racing against time and trailing by a score, the East Union girls soccer team turned to desperation.