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.

Indians must beat Summerville again to extend season

Back in September it seemed like a nine-point loss to a middle-of-the-pack Trans Valley League team, now Ripon High's 32-23 win over the Summerville Bears glares as the only blemish on an otherwise perfect Summerville season.

SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

Division III • Frontrunner: No. 1 Inderkum (10-0) … The Tigers are ranked eighth overall in the section according to MaxPreps.com. Defense has four shutouts and allows just nine points per game, and offense features two terrific backs in Antonio Bumpers (1,682 yards, 27 TDs) and Devin Hartley (858 yards, seven TDs). Inderkum is one of just seven teams section wide with a perfect record. • Contenders: No. 2 Del Campo (9-1), No. ...

Five Timberwolves on first team

Area goal leader Braian Gomez was one of five Sierra Timberwolves named to the all-Valley Oak League first team.

SPRINTING AHEAD

The Valley Oak League isn't traditionally known for its sprinting, but the 2013 class is poised to make some noise.

HORSE BACK IN SADDLE

Tyler Moss has returned in time for Sierra to make a run at a Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth.

Manteca doubles team advance to section semifinals

Manteca High's tennis team was well represented in the first day of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Individual Tournament on Thursday.

Chacon sparks Ripon in playoff-clinching victory

Tiana Chacon and the Ripon softball team got their revenge.

Brink leads EU to VOL championship

Will Brink punctuated his decorated four-year run in the Valley Oak League with multiple titles Wednesday at Livermore's Poppy Ridge Golf Course.

ACE BAFFLES BUFFS

With the Valley Oak League championship and a postseason berth already out of reach, Manteca High had little to play for but pride Wednesday when the Buffaloes travelled across town to meet Sierra.

MHS freshman competing in section trials

How's this for degree of difficulty: To find Manteca High's only diver in recent history you'll have to travel to Tracy High.

RC avoids loss with last-minute goal in SL finale

RIPON – Mariposa was on the verge of spoiling Ripon Christian's senior day and Southern League finale on Wednesday.

East Union, Ripon Christian honor seniors with wins

Four East Union seniors came through with clutch plays on Senior Night Wednesday at Northgate Softball Complex, where the Lancers squeaked out a 7-6 extra-inning victory over Weston Ranch.

Ripon ousted by Orestimba in TVL contest

Ripon came up short on the road against Orestimba Newman on Wednesday and failed to record any RBIs during its fourth Trans Valley League loss.

RC falls short of clinching outright title

The Ripon Christian Knights will get one more shot at clinching the outright Southern League baseball title.

GONE WITH THE WIND

Freshman Leah Manuleleua reached out for sister Sialei's right hand and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as the two walked off gusty Guss Schmiedt Field Tuesday night.

Lancers down Manteca with sights set on VOL title

It all comes down to today's winner-take-all Valley Oak League Championships at Livermore's Poppy Ridge Golf Course.

Ripon rolls to third straight TVL title

Ripon didn't play its best, but it was plenty good enough to clinch its third straight Trans-Valley League championship.

MOVING ON

Weston Ranch punched its ticket into the quarterfinal of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II boys tennis tournament on Tuesday afternoon.