Sierra opened its Valley Oak League baseball schedule on Monday with a 4-3 extra-inning win over reigning co-champion Central Catholic at Jack Thomson Stadium.
The Timberwolves (3-2) overcame an early two-run deficit and won it in the eighth inning when Ryan Reyes’ sharp grounder was misplayed by the shortstop, plating Cole Martin. Martin earlier walked to lead off the inning and ended up on third base with no outs after Koa Rodrigues’ single to right field.
Rodrigues was also the winning pitcher.
“We played a really good baseball game today,” Sierra coach Travis Thomson said. “Outside of the second inning, we put pressure on Central, and we were able to plate more runs as the game went.
“Koa had a big day. He pitched well, had a big hit in the eighth to get the winning run to third base. He is one of our young guys who has done such a good job with the little things. It is great to see him have some success on the field.”
Starting pitcher Wyatt Bauer spotted himself a short-lived lead with a solo homer in the bottom of the first inning. The visiting Raiders (3-2) jumped ahead with three unearned runs in the second.
The Timberwolves clawed back with a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings. Reyes reached on an infield single that scored Rudy Barney, and Riley Kane drove in Ricardo Anaya (doubled) to tie it.
Bauer pitched the first four innings, striking out four while surrendering four hits and four walks. Rodrigues threw four efficient innings in relief, retiring all 12 batters he faced while firing three strikeouts.
“(Bauer) certainly put us in a position to win the game, keeping us within two runs of tying it,” Thomson said. “Koa came in and was able to keep Central off balance the last four innings. His ability to throw three pitches at any time for a strike has made him a valuable asset to our pitching staff.”
Marcus Davenport struck out five in his 4 2/3-inning start for Central Catholic, which hosts the second of the three-game series on Wednesday. Broden Thomas was 2 for 4 with an RBI double.
Patterson 7, Manteca 3
Oregon-committed pitcher Max Medina registered 11 strikeouts, as host Patterson (4-2) raced away late in the VOL opener. Offensively, he went 2 for 3 and plated three runs.
Manteca (6-2) was in striking distance the first four innings, but the Tigers gained separation with two runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings.
Manteca sophomore Nate Slikker went 2 for 2 with a solo home run. He also pitched the first five innings, ringing up seven strikeouts while giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits and no walks. Noah Navarro had an RBI double and scored a run.
Freshman Cole Medina drove in three runs for Patterson. Noah Cozart went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
Grace Davis 4, Ripon Christian 1
Ripon Christian (5-2) led for the first six innings until the Spartans (5-2) busted out of their slump to score all of their runs in the top of the seventh.
Jordan Luisi drove in Stadtler Postma for the Knights’ lone run in the first inning, but Grace Davis Logan Ariza locked in from there. The senior ace collected 11 strikeouts in his two-hit gem, walking just one in the process. Ariza contributed a triple and a run to the Spartans’ comeback.
Ripon Christian’s Trenton Cloward (2 2/3 innings), Luisi (2 1/3 innings) and Postma (two innings) combined for 10 strikeouts.
River Islands 8, Chavez 3
George Dayeh powered the Riptide attack with a triple and five RBIs in his prolific 4-for-4 effort at Champions Field Community Park.
River Islands (5-1) rallied for the first four runs in the bottom of the third inning and never trailed. Israel Fuentes contributed a double, two runs and an RBI.
Aahlad Bysani was the winning pitcher, as he struck out five over five innings in a combined three-hitter. Fellow freshman Santiago Lopez closed it out.
Steven White drove in a pair of runs for Chavez (1-9).
