Getting the Valley Oak League season underway must have been on the minds of the Sierra High track athletes, after dismantling the Ceres Bulldogs on both levels of completion Wednesday in the VOL opener.
When your No. 1 singles player takes two-out-of-three matches from an opponent that's part of an established program you're probably going to have a good day.
RIPON - Little time had elapsed when the Hughson Huskies struck gold after a throw-in led to a breakaway goal, giving a glimpse of things to come in Ripon Christian's 6-0 loss to Hughson in Trans Valley League play Wednesday.
The Sierra Timberwolves had an opportunity to take a stride forward on the Valley Oak League golf scene, but Oakdale High had other intentions during Sierra's 210-221 loss to the Mustangs Wednesday at Manteca Golf Course.
STOCKTON – The Weston Ranch baseball squad found themselves down 5-0 after three innings, but the deficit was just the first hurdle in the Cougars' come-from-behind win over Monterey Trail in the Claudia Lewis Tournament at McNair High.
After one inning of play, the Lathrop Spartans looked as if competing in its Valley Oak League debut would not be a problem, but two huge innings and 14 runs later Manteca High showed that would not be the case in a 15-0 shellacking Tuesday.
SONORA - The first marquee soccer matchup in the Valley Oak League came on opening day Tuesday, and it was a chance for East Union to stake its claim as one of the conference's teams to beat.
MODESTO – Sierra High's defense only committed two errors, but they proved costly in the Timberwolves' 6-1 loss to Johansen High Tuesday.
­East Union's tennis team met its first test in Valley Oak League play Tuesday against defending singles champion Luis Ochoa and the Ceres Bulldogs.
LATHROP - Ripon played near perfect softball save for poor execution on the base paths on a few plays, but head coach Robert Vernon gave kudos to first-year varsity Lathrop's defensive effort.
Competing without some of its best players is nothing new to Ripon High's girls soccer team.
It was business as usual for the Sierra High golf team, which took care of Lathrop High's developing program with ease 205- 348 Tuesday at Manteca Golf Course.
MODESTO – The Sierra High sophomore baseball team got quality pitching from Mike Leland to cruise to an easy 6-1 non-league victory over Johansen Tuesday.
Don't write off Sierra High's girls soccer team because of its record. Yes, the 4-4 Timberwolves won't match their incredible 26-1-2 finish from 2009. Yes, they did graduate two of the area's most prolific goal scorers, including All-American and program record-holder Nicole Vanni, and two all-league defenders. And yes, they are still the ones to beat in the always-competitive Valley Oak League. The Timberwolves' .500 non-league finish can be more attributed to whom they played ...
Over the last three seasons it was Oakdale and everybody else in the Valley Oak League. With several key members graduated and another coming off offseason Tommy John surgery, the Mustangs may not be what they have been but are still formidable. Parity in the VOL is nothing new, but this year the rest of the contending field is looking to end Oakdale's three-year reign. Oakdale and Sonora qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV ...
Ripon Christian's boys golf team got even with Southern League rival Turlock Christian in the conference tournament Monday at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club.
Nick Sharp could feel the shadow cast and left behind by arguably the most gifted golfer to play for Ripon High's tradition rich boys program.
Celina Cooper needed just two innings to rack up six RBIs, and Peyton Rose twirled a mercy-shortened three-hitter as Manteca walloped visiting Lathrop 17-0 Friday.
Those pesky Warriors from Orestimba were at it again.
Marc Wilson had a huge game from the plate on Thursday.
Yok Jing Ma repeats as a champion, while Angel Tejada gets to go out as one.
East Union is starting to peak at the right time.
Nick Sharp brought his best to Stevinson Ranch on Thursday.
Manteca lost its outright grip on the top spot in the Valley Oak League with its 3-1 defeat at Oakdale Thursday.
Ripon made quick work of visiting Modesto Christian on Thursday, amassing seven runs in the second inning en route to a 10-0 mercy-shortened win. The Indians plated their final two runs in the bottom of the fifth to end it early.
The top sprinters on the Manteca High boys track and field team were nursing injuries in the Buffaloes' final Valley Oak League dual meet at East Union Wednesday.
RIPON – Ripon's Josh Clark and Fotios Jordanoglou had solid games defensively Wednesday.
Selena Gonzalez's RBI single in the top of the first inning gave Manteca some needed early momentum on the road.