Koa Rodrigues pitched a complete-game five-hitter on Thursday, as Sierra completed the two-game sweep of Downey with a 3-1 non-league victory in Modesto.
The senior gave up a run in the bottom of the first inning but was lights out from there, finishing with seven strikeouts against two walks in the pitcher’s duel. Gustavo Munoz held Sierra (9-13) scoreless through five innings but gave up two in the sixth and one in the seventh for the loss.
Jayden Pimental, Chad Simas Jr. and Fabian Fuentes came up with the RBI knocks for the Timberwolves, who won back-to-back for the first time since the final week of February. Julian Masaniai drove in Owen Sacuskie (2 for 3, double) for the lone Knights (6-13) run.
Sierra will look to keep the momentum going next week in a Valley Oak League series with postseason implications against Patterson starting Monday on the road.
West Park 8, Manteca 7
In a rematch of a 2025 Sac-Joaquin Section Division III quarterfinal, West Park (17-3) of Roseville eked out another one-run win over the visiting Buffaloes (15-7)
Manteca took a two-run lead in the first inning and remained ahead at 7-2 going into the bottom of the fifth, when the Panthers mounted their go-ahead six-run rally powered by a three-run homer from Ayden Deome.
Starter Jimmy Burns pitched four solid innings, striking out three while giving up one earned run on three hits and no walks. He was also 1 for 2 with a double, two runs and two RBIs on offense.
Dane Williams (triple, run, two RBIs) and Caleb Ortega (RBI) both went 2 for 4.
The Buffs return to VOL play Monday at home against Mountain House.
Ripon 1, Golden Valley 0
Hunter Weber (2 for 3) drove in Lucas Weaver (2 for 2, three steals) in the third inning, and that was all the Indians (11-9) needed to win their final game in the 65th Fran Oneto/Atwater-Winton Lions Easter Tournament.
Ripon finished 2-2 in the event.
Weber was also the winning pitcher in the combined three-hitter, logging four innings while surrendering one hit and four walks. Frank Carter-Castro took it from there, giving up two hits and a walk. They each struck out two.
Cody Peterson (six hits, walk, five strikeouts) was the hard-luck loser for Golden Valley (7-13).
Ripon begins a two-game Trans Valley League set with Orestimba at home next Wednesday.
Le Grand 5, Ripon Christian 4
Two of the hottest teams in the southern half of the Sac-Joaquin Section met Thursday in the Windemuth Tournament championship at John Thurman Field.
Le Grand (15-3), winners of 13 straight, plated two runs in the top of the sixth to jump ahead for good, and sophomore Jose Manzo three of the four batters he faced in the seventh for the save. It was a big win for Le Grand, which knocked off the top team in the MaxPreps SJS Division VI rankings.
Ripon Christian (16-3) had a seven-game winning streak snapped. Noah DeBruyn had two RBIs for the Knights, and Jack De Jong contributed one. Stadler Postma scored twice.
RC has four more non-league games ahead starting with Gustine at home next Monday.
River Islands 6, Modesto Christian 2 (5)
George Dayeh fired seven strikeouts in four innings, and Santiago struck out the side in the fifth to complete the combined two-hitter at Islanders Field.
The Riptide (11-6) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning benefited from eight errors by Modesto Christian (2-12) in the non-league contest. Israel Fuentes knocked in one run and scored two. Devyn Kotecha and Dayeh each added an RBI.
River Islands next faces Holt Academy on April 22 at home to begin a pivotal Central California Athletic Alliance two-game set.
