The Ripon Christian High Knights opened the baseball season with an abbreviated 10-0 victory over visiting Galt.
Junior Nolan Lingley, who started the game at shortstop, took over the starting pitching chores from Ian Vrieling, finished out the game and went 4 for 4 at the plate with three RBI and three stolen bases.
“Nolan had a great all-around game,” said RC coach Jon De Visser, who had to use four freshmen in place of Caleb Terpstra, Brock Nunes, Will Gilbert and Joseph DeBruyn.
All four play are still playing basketball – the Knights are currently in the NorCals, preparing to travel to Mount Shasta for opening-round action.
Freshmen Andrew Clark, Micah De Jong, Isaac Bos and Nicholas TeVelde filled the void. TeVelde, who started at first, drew a walk before being replaced due to injury.
De Jong was 2 for 3 with a triple while Clark went 1 for 3 with an RBI.
With threatening skies looming, rRC (1-0) took a 2-0 lead in the first.
Lingley led off with an infield single and subsequently stole second, and
scored on Declan Van Vuren’s RBI single up the middle.
Van Vuren also swiped second and, in his attempt to advance to third, came home on the errant throw.
De Jong drew a lead-off walk in the second inning – Galt (0-2) threatened in the top half of the frame only to leave both runners stranded in scoring position. Meanwhile, Lingley and senior catcher Dale Fisher had consecutive hits during the two-run frame in which RC increased its lead, 4-0.
The Knights made it 6-0 in the third behind De Jong’s triple, Clark’s sacrifice and Lingley’s RBI double.
RC ended the game in the sixth inning, scoring four times while enforcing the10-run rule on the Warriors.
Jay Hoestra, who reached base on a fielder’s choice, along with De Jong and Clark, who had back-to-back singles to load up the bases, scored on Lingley’s two-run double and Van Vuren’s game-ending two-run single.
The Knights are scheduled to host Modesto Christian on Thursday.
Boys volleyball
East Union 3, Ceres 0
CERES – The Lancers (1-0) overcame a hard-hitting Bulldogs team in the non-league opener, taking the best-of-five game match in three games.
East Union won 25-20, 25-23, and 25-22.
“We’re a young team but very much improved,” said Lancers coach Chelsea Herrera.
Alec Alegre led the way with six kills, three blocks and five aces and Slavio Mercado delivered on five kills and four blocks in the three-game sweep.
In addition, Parmbir Khattra distributed 20 assists to go with three kills, two digs and a pair of service aces.
East Union will host Livingston on Thursday.
