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Alfaros second-half goal forces deadlock
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Arnie Morales returns a volley during his doubles match. Morales was teamed with Kyle Morton. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO/The Bulletin
TURLOCK – Facing a stiff test in Turlock, a 2008 Sac-Joaquin Section Division I runner-up, Sierra showed well, forcing a 1-1 tie on a Diana Alfaro goal from Nicole Vanni seven minutes into the second half.
“(The goal) came from the left side of our attack,” Timberwolves head coach Manuel Pires said. “We had a nice combination going and Nicole sent it to the far post when Diana pushed it in.”
The T’Wolves got off to a sluggish start in the first half, allowing Turlock to take the early lead.
But Sierra picked it up in the second half.
“We had some good ball movement out there,” Pires said. “We had a number of good chances, but we couldn’t push in that second goal.
“Overall, it was a good game.”
Sierra (1-0-1) hosts Modesto Thursday.
Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
Baseball
Ripon Christian 8, Bret Harte 6
Starting pitcher Darin Castro (4 IP, 1 H, 5 K) picked up his first win of the season and Matt Unruh belted his first homerun as the Knights claimed victory in their first outing.
Unruh’s three-run blast came in a four-run fourth for RC (1-0), scoring Casto and Robbie DeVries and breaking a 4-4 deadlock.
Dylan Van Vliet added a two-run single in the third and Josh Welch (1B) scored on a wild pitch in the first.
Wes Lawn struck out three in two innings of work and Robert Hall (K, 1 H) closed out the seventh.
Ripon Christian hosts Denair Thursday.
Golf
Beyer 237, Ripon 251
Daniel Cardoza shot two balls out of bounds and still managed a 6-over-par 42 Tuesday at Spring Creek Country Club, but it wouldn’t be enough in the loss.
Matty Gay shot a 48 for the Indians (1-1), Nick Mendonca a 47, and Cole Bagdasiaran a 55.
Both Jordan Williamson and Mark Bigelow turned in 59’s.
Newcomer Jake Ratto shot a 42 and earned a spot to join the regular rotation when the Indians travel to Manteca Park to face the Buffaloes Thursday.
“Half of our lineup had never played in a match,” Ripon head coach Chris Musseman said. “Two freshmen and one sophomore, and we were on a better course today. We struggled a bit.”
Tennis
Manteca 7, Johansen 0
Considering the lack of experience among the Buffalo ranks, Manteca looked a lot like it did a year ago in handling Johansen Tuesday at Manteca High.
The win, Manteca’s first of the brand new season, was highlighted by Yassen Aniss’ 6-2, 6-1 win over David Cano.
No. 2 Gabe Lopez beat Andrew Webb, 6-1, 6-0, No. 3 Alex Barragan knocked off Emmanuel Gonzalez, 6-2, 6-4, and No. 4 Marc Leon upended Jonathan Carreon, 6-1, 6-1.
“It was a pretty good opening match,” Manteca head coach Frank Fontana said. “I was very happy with the result considering we have so many new guys playing this year.”
In doubles play, Arnie Morales and Kyle Morton won 6-1, 6-1, Alex McAdams and Max Angelo won 6-0, 6-1, and Oral Nunis and Sammy Dhaliwal won 6-3, 6-3.
“You never know what you have until you play a match,” Fontana said.
Manteca (1-0) hosts Pleasant Grove Thursday starting at 3:30 p.m.

— Brandon Petersen