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Ripon pummels 1st 2 opponents in D5 playoffs
SB--Ripon D5 playoffs pic 1
Ripon slugger Felicia Ceja connects for a double against Orestimba on Wednesday. - photo by GARY JENSEN/GreatShots.SmugMug.com

STOCKTON — Ripon was locked and loaded for the start of its Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoff run Wednesday at Arnaiz Softball Complex.

The top-seeded Indians amassed 11 runs on 11 hits in the first inning of its 16-3 thrashing of Orestimba and later stomped Linden 10-2. They’ll take on No. 2 Marysville (20-5) in the winners-bracket semifinal Friday starting at 5.

Mikaela Ferreira and Felicia Ceja — the “Bash Sisters,” as coach Robert Vernon calls them — led the hit parade, going 9 for 12 with a combined three home runs and 11 RBIs.

“The way we hit the ball, I’ve never seen anything like it before,” Vernon said. “It set the tone. I knew we were capable of hitting the ball and having days like that, but to see it is to believe it.”

Ripon’s opening-inning barrage said it all. Of its 11 hits, six were doubles and one was a homer by Ceja. Ferreira accounted for two of those doubles.

Hoku Lee (two runs), Shay Furtado (three RBIs), Taylor Jaquez (double), Karla Calderon (double, RBI), Ferreira (three RBIs) and Ceja (two RBIs, double) each had two hits in Game 1. Danielle Sperry (two innings, four strikeouts), Lillian Dillard (two innings, three strikeouts) and Jasmine Parra (one inning) shared time in the pitcher’s circle.

Ripon (20-3) continued to swing away against No. 4 Linden (21-6). The Indians jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first and scored four more in the fourth when Ferreira’s grand slam was followed by a solo shot from Ceja.

Sperry went the distance in the nightcap, striking out 10 in a five-hitter. Ferreira and Jaquez (RBI, run) were both 3 for 4, while Ceja went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a double. Calderon drove in Ripon’s final two runs with a single in the sixth.

“Hopefully we can carry this into Friday,” Vernon said. “(Marysville) is a tough team, they’re well coached and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”