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Ripon High splits in Nor Cal Classic opener
base left
East Unions Jake Harries makes a diving catch Friday in a 9-5 road win over Sierra. - photo by Photo by WAYNE THALLANDER

Ripon High went 1-1 in the opener of the NorCal Classic in Tracy.

Playing in the Gold Division bracket, the Indians (12-3) fell to Bella Vista in the first game, 7-5.

They trailed 7-2 but nearly came back with a three-run rally in the fifth.

Ripon, however, took care of business in the second game, defeating West High, 5-2.

The Indians will take on Los Banos today at 11 a.m. 

Now in its ninth year, the Nor Cal Classic is one of the biggest softball tournaments in Northern California, with games being played at four locations in Tracy – the Ball Park, West High, Kimball High and Millennium High at the Tracy Learning Center.

In addition, East Union is also playing in the Nor Cal Classic.

The Lancers, who are 1-1 in the Platinum Division bracket, will face Gregori today at 11:30 a.m.

For more information, log on to www.norcalclassic.weebly.com.

Sierra 3, Central Catholic 1

In a makeup game played Thursday, the Timberwolves (5-2 Valley Oak League, 6-7) posted a big win over Central Catholic (3-4 VOL, 11-5).

Pitching ace Lindsey Walljasper went 6 1/3 innings, allowing three hits while fanning 14. Savannah Guzman came in on relief, retiring the final two batters on ground outs to post the save.

Freshman shortstop Mia Guevara drove in a pair of runs, going 1 for 3. Legacy Barnes was 2 for 3.

Sierra will take on first-place East Union on Tuesday.

 

Baseball

East Union 9, Sierra 5

In an error-filled game, the host Timberwolves (5-2 Valley Oak League, 10-6 overall) committed their three in the second inning leading to four runs for the Lancers (5-3, 10-6) in the VOL contest.

“It was a sloppy game today,” Sierra coach Jack Thomson said. “On both sides. We didn’t play real well and we didn’t make plays.

“Thursday (a 6-5 win for Sierra at East Union) was a pretty well played game and today was a little sloppy – there were a lot of errors. But they deserved to win today.”

Two East Union errors in the bottom of the third let the Timberwolves back to within 4-3, and a two-RBI double by Jesse Babauta gave Sierra a 5-4 lead in the fourth. 

That lead did not last long.

A pair of singles by Andrew Morones (3 for 3, two runs, two walks) and Jacob Sousa coupled with three walks put the Lancers ahead 7-5 in the fifth. Mason James (2 for 4, RBI) had an RBI in a two-run seventh for East Union.

“This was one of those grind-it-out games,” Lancers coach Dan Triglia said. “Things didn’t always go our way but we kept digging. 

“The guys had some resolve. They had an opportunity to redeem themselves after a tough loss on Thursday. We just kept on digging and kept on grinding and they believed. We rode with it.”  

Jake Harries doubled for East Union and J.T. Ortiz-Martinez was 2 for 4 with a double for Sierra. 

 

Ripon 5, Manteca 4

The Indians (11-4-2) broke a tie with a sixth-inning run and held on for the non-league road win on Thursday. 

“Credit Ripon for grinding out a win,” Manteca coach Neil MacDannald said. “Today we struggled throwing strikes late. We’ll put some work in and be ready for our return to VOL play next week.”

Alex Gouveia was 2 for 4 with a run for the Buffaloes (12-7) and Ryan Ward added a pair of RBI.

Ryan Ward, Kyle Rachels, Zach Chamberlain, Andrew Brunn, Jacob Moon and Gino Campiotti split the pitching duties for Manteca. 

 

Swimming

Section qualifiers

The Manteca High swim program had four of its relay teams qualify for the upcoming Sac-Joaquin Section meet.

Included were boys 200-meter medley relay team of Ajani Jones, Matthew Trejo, Josh Craighead and Arturo Avila.

The same foursome also qualified for the 400 freestyle relays.

The Buffaloes’ 200 freestyle team of Jacob Evans, Steele Roberts, Jones and Trejo along with Manteca girls’ 200 freestyle relay team of Kianna Fortuny, Emma Kadillak, Alyssa Trejo and Samantha Cerritos qualified for the sections during that same exhibition meet with Mountain House on Thursday.