Sierra standout closes at CIF State meet

FRESNO – Only a select few had the privilege of grinding out another race during t the CIF State Cross Country Championships at Woodward Park Saturday and Sierra High senior John Bowers was the only Manteca area athlete to make the cut.

SIERRA EDGES BENICIA TO ADVANCE

On the last big play of a game full of them, Jarrod Daniels made a statement while sealing Sierra High's thrilling 40-39 victory over No. 6 Benicia Friday at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.

Defensive backfield shines vs. air attack

Offense might win games, but it was defense that allowed Sierra to hold off a prolific Benicia passing attack that was unlike anything the team has seen so far this year.

T’Wolves don’t miss a beat behind back-up QB

It's one thing to run the opposing team's offense during scout-team practice, and it's another guiding a team to a second-round Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Football playoff victory.

READY OR NOT

Fortunes have followed the Ripon High volleyball team for the majority of its 2009 season, but the squads' blessings took new heights when its second-round opponent, Notre Dame High of Salinas, knocked off No. 2 seed Salesian, handing the Indians home court advantage for the CIF NorCal Championship match Saturday.

NO HOLIDAY BREAK FOR TIMBERWOLVES

The Sierra Timberwolves have reason to be thankful.

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.

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.

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.

Rising Star

Olivia Vezaldenos has the type of talent not typically seen on the high school hardwood but more on blacktops and playgrounds.

Cantu took perfect mark into CIF final

There are two sides to Alyssa Cantu, Weston Ranch's groundbreaking wrestler who took second in the CIF State Girls Championships last month at the Visalia Convention Center.

East Union blanked by the Tigers

The East Union baseball team won't see Tokay and sophomore pitcher Nick Dentoni the rest of the season, and that's a good thing.

DEFENDING THEIR TURF

Guss Schmiedt Field hasn't been too kind to Sierra's girls soccer team the last two years.

Sierra gets split against Oakdale

Sierra standout Dakota Conners delivered on Thursday afternoon in Oakdale.

Rounsville shines as EU beats Buffs

East Union sophomore Nick Rounsville missed an eagle putt and left a couple of birdies short during Thursday's 205-235 Valley Oak League victory over Manteca at the Manteca Park Golf Course.

Manteca boys edge East Union

The Manteca High boys swim team outlasted host East Union 89-81 in a nip-and-tuck Valley Oak League meet Thursday.

Cougars win final match to decide winner

Weston Ranch's Kent Balacy came through with a clutch victory over Sierra's Anthony Alcantar with all eyes on the final No. 6 singles match that would decide the winner.

BACKYARD BRAWL

Despite being faced with an eight-run deficit and just six more outs left to make something happen with on Wednesday, Manteca had no intentions of laying down against its cross-town rival East Union at the Northgate Softball Complex.

Ripon bashes winless Bruins

Ripon rallied for seven runs in the first two innings and never looked back in a 10-2 rout of host Riverbank on Tuesday.

Sierra boys track in driver’s seat for title

The Sierra High boys track and field team are in line to capture its first Valley Oak League championship since 2011.

New-look lineup sparks Ripon attack

Desperate for a spark in the offensive third, Ripon coach Jamie DeBruyn has looked to a defender and a goalie for help as the Trans-Valley League race for three postseason berths heads down the final stretch.

FRESH FACES

If Tuesday's match with Kimball was a barometer for how good East Union can be this season, consider this:

Sierra stymied by ’Stangs

Sierra competed with the heart of a lion Tuesday during a Valley Oak League showdown with Oakdale.

Valdez takes center stage in Manteca win

Donning pink jerseys, Manteca blanked Lathrop 3-0 in the annual Kicking for the Cure game hosted at Guss Schmiedt Field on Tuesday night.