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 ...
Manteca High's boys golf team made easy work of Central Valley, 264-370, at Manteca Park Golf Course Monday, but coach Dave Fontanilla wants to see better with the Valley Oak League season now in full swing.
East Union goalie Taylor Maruca played solid throughout the Lancers' action in their three-team tournament Saturday, but her final play proved to loom largest, as the Lancers rode Maruca's penalty kick goalie-stand to the tourney title in front of the home fans.
Everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong for Sierra High during a four-minute, tournament-costing portion of its 3-2 Vern Gebhardt Champions Cup loss to the Turlock Bulldogs Saturday in Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium
The pressure of hosting the 5th Annual Vern Gebhardt Champions Cup as defending champions didn't seem to faze Sierra High's soccer team, as the Timberwolves came out of pool play with a 3-0 win over Downey and a 2-0 win over Stagg Friday.
Sierra High's girls swimming team clinched its second straight outright Valley Oak League championship and third in a row overall in its final regular-season dual meet against East Union last year.
East Union High's track and field team found strength in numbers in blowout wins against undermanned Weston Ranch Thursday.
Manteca bounced back from consecutive losses against Oakdale last week and took out its frustration on Kimball Tuesday.
Manteca High's boys tennis team ended a four-year slide in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-II playoffs with Monday's commanding 8-1 victory over Western Athletic Conference No. 3 seed Livingston at Manteca Regional Tennis Center.
Going into the regular-season finale between East Union and Manteca girls soccer teams there's plenty of intrigue beyond feuding neighbors.
RIPON – For Tami Kamper and the Ripon Christian tennis team, the matches will get infinitely harder beginning with the Sac-Joaquin Section Team Tournament.
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.