ATWATER – Ripon High opened the Fran Oneto / Atwater-Winton Lions Easter Tournament with an impressive 1-0 win over Downey High of Modesto on Monday.

Both teams along with host Atwater and St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda) are in Pool A of this 60th annual event held at Memorial Ballpark.

Ripon will take on St. Joseph today at 4 p.m.

Golden Valley, Turlock Christian, Mountain House and Livingston are in Pool B.

Against Downey of the Central California Athletic Division, the Indians (10-6) scored the game’s only run in the fourth inning.

Gerald Nix doubled and promptly came home on Nathanial Stum’s RBI double.

Pitching and defense would hold up for Ripon.

Starting pitcher Mason Azevedo allowed just one hit to the Knights (5-16-1) and issued two walks in 6 2/3 innings of work.

Nix got the final out for the save.

“It was a great way to start the tournament,” said Ripon coach Jacob Rodriguez, whose team also played error-free.