RIPON — Ripon’s girls golf team managed the slicker-than-usual greens well Thursday at Spring Creek Golf & Country Club, dispatching Escalon 175-209 to increase its lead in the Valley Foothill League North Division.
The Indians, now 12-0 in dual matches, have three nine-hole rounds remaining in the regular season starting next Monday with Argonaut visiting. The VFL Tournament is scheduled for Oct. 14 at Micke Grove Golf Links.
Ripon coach Eric Dambrosio hopes his team can sharpen some things up by then. Escalon goes into the final stretch in second place at 11-2.
“Overall, the girls did well today,” he said. “Hopefully we can clean up a few strokes here and there and get ready for the end-of-the-year tournament. We have been doing great this year, but there is always room for improvement.”
Zoe Bremer shined against the second-place Cougars, finishing 4-over 40. Bianca Toledo was the individual runner-up with a 43 and was followed by Gabbi Ilardi’s 44 and Kassidy Isham’s 48. Mikayla Schut was Escalon’s low scorer with a 45.

GIRLS TENNIS
Oakdale 5, Sierra 4
OAKDALE — Things have gotten interesting in the battle for the third and final playoff berth in the Valley Oak League, as Oakdale evened its season series with the Timberwolves (5-5).
Sierra ruled at the top of the singles ladder, starting with Kaitlyn Rausa’s 6-4, 6-0 win over Tayla Barry at the No. 1 spot. Nos. 2 and 3 players Nadia Petrovic (6-1, 6-1) and Melanie Nguyen (6-1, 6-2) had routine sweeps. The No. 1 doubles duo of Kendall Sellers and Jasmine Sebastian knocked off Katelyn Signorelli and Tanna Borba 6-2, 6-3 for the fourth team point.
Oakdale got the clinching win at No. 2 doubles, where Elizabeth Padilla and Hallie Gregory prevailed, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2.

WATER POLO
Ceres 12, Lathrop 4 (G)
Ceres 10, Lathrop 2 (B)
CERES — Sophia Serrano secured two goals for Lathrop’s girls team, with Hannah Stewart and Delaney Vega each scoring once.
Scoring for the boys were Connor Giovannoni and J.R. Stevenson.