RIPON — Ripon High boys golf coach Chris Musseman hoped that his team’s first round of the season was is its worst.
That’s been the case so far.
The Indians avenged that early loss against Hughson on Thursday, winning decisively 219-253 at Spring Creek Golf & Country Club. Ripon dropped the Trans-Valley League season-opener to the same Huskies (5-2) 239-251 at Turlock Country Club.
“For the kids it was a huge weight on their shoulders,” Musseman said. “We went out and played so bad in the first match of the year against them, and the kids needed to realize that it was just a mistake, a one-time thing.
“Today they just went out and played their game. It wasn’t the best score but solid. The kids were focused and stepped up.”
The only bad news for Ripon was that freshman standout Connor Larkin was beaten out by Hughson’s Ben Johannes, who was the round medalist with a 4-over 39. Larkin settled for a 40 after a double-double-bogey finish. In addition, No. 2 golfer Justin Brito had the throw-out score.
Trent Hawes made up some of those strokes from the second group, turning in one of his best outings with a 41. Rhet Herrin and Luis Candido added 44s, and Cole Stevens rounded out team scoring with a 50.
The Indians (6-1) remain tied for first with Escalon, which it previously beat at Oakdale Golf & Country Club. The rematch is next Thursday, April 14 at Spring Creek.
TENNIS
Manteca 9, Lathrop 0
The Buffaloes (11-1 Valley Oak League) had a clean sweep for a third straight day.
Singles players Si Hao Tang, Yok Eyh Ma, Dhillon Patel and Kurtis Ma all won by 6-0, 6-0 scores. No. 1 Solman Aniss topped Ben Hoang 6-1, 6-1, and No. 2 Kyle Thornburg defeated Navinder Dhindsa 6-1, 6-3.
The No. 1 doubles team of Cameron Gonzales and Kevin Lin produced a 6-0, 6-0 shutout. Joseph Ponci/Robert Foo (6-1, 6-1) and Niko Plares/Shawn Briscoe (6-3, 6-3) also won in straight sets.
Oakdale 7, Sierra 2
No. 4 singles player Jimmy Galindo (6-4, 6-2) and No. 6 Mat Len (6-4, 6-3) came through for Sierra’s two points. Laic Beugre lost the competitive No. 1 match to Spencer Keyser 7-5, 2-6, 2-6.
TRACK & FIELD
Lathrop def. Weston Ranch, Central Catholic
LATHROP — The Spartans boys and girls varsity squads both improved to 4-0 after sweeping Central Catholic and Weston Ranch in a VOL tri-meet Tuesday. The boys cruised past Central 94-40 and Weston Ranch 94-29.
Tyrell Cooper (400, triple jump, 4x400 relay), Tremayne Willis (200), Elijah Hunter (discus, shot), and Chris McKay (300 hurdles) took first in their events. The 4x100 relay set a season record in a hand-timed 43.54 seconds.
Lathrop’s girls also had little trouble in dispatching the visitors, blowing past Weston Ranch 107-18 and Central 100-22.
Myani Thornton (100, 200, 4x100) and Danya Phillips (400, 800, 4x400) were three-event winners. Shelia Mertillen, Kalani Akers and Gurveen Bal swept the long and triple jumps.
Freshman baseball
East Union 16, Oakdale 5
Andrew Mount hit 3 for 3 with three RBIs and struck out seven in 4 1/3 innings from the pitcher’s mound.
Evan Heath threw the final 3 1/3 innings for the win. He was also 2 for 3 with two RBIs on offense. Daniel Ruiz added two more hits and drove in a pair of runs. The Lancers totaled 14 hits.
