TURLOCK — Julian Cantu belted a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday to give Sierra a 3-2 win over Merced in the Pedretti Tournament. 
With the Bears (1-4) leading 2-1 going into the bottom of the seventh, Slyder Blyth led off the frame for the Timberwolves (3-0-1) with a line drive down the right-field line. Deshon Thomas and Franky Vela followed that with line drives of their own to load the bases, which allowed Jesse Ortiz-Martinez’s liner up the middle to score Blyth and tie the game, setting up Cantu’s game-ender that plated Thomas.
“It was nice to leave the field with a win,” Sierra coach Travis Thomson said. “It wasn’t a pretty win, but it was a win.  Our kids showed that they still had some fight left in them in the seventh and because of it they were able to leave with the win.”    
In four innings of work for the Timberwolves, Jason Silva tallied nine strikeouts and one unearned run. Zion Bell closed out the final three innings, striking out six and giving up one unearned run.
“Jason (Silva) did a good job getting out of jams,” Thomson said. “At one point there were bases loaded with no outs and got himself out of the jam.
“Jason did not have his best stuff today and still battled to shut down Merced.  He struggled with throwing strikes early, but when he needed a big pitch he was able to find it.”
Blyth, Cantu and Joseph Lomeli were all 2 for 3.
 
Manteca 11, Ceres 0 (5)
CERES — Rafael Diaz threw five innings of one-hit ball for the Buffaloes (3-3), striking out two and walking three in non-league action.
“I’m proud of Raf,” Manteca coach Neil MacDannald said. “He had good stuff going today.  The guys played catch well and had competitive at bats.
“I'm looking forward to keeping it going.”
Alex Gouveia had the big bat for the Buffaloes, going 3 for 4 with three RBI, a double and a run. Ryan Ward (two doubles) and Dom Rea were both 2 for 4 with a pair of RBI and a run. Isaiah Perez and Diaz scored two runs each and were both were both 2 for 3.
 
Chavez 11, Lathrop 5
STOCKTON — The host Titans (2-2) totaled nine runs in the third and fourth innings.
“The kids started off really well,” Spartans coach Charles Garcia said. “In the third and fourth innings we didn’t have our heads in the game and they came back to get us.
“We have a lot of young kids so every game is a learning experience.”
Kiran Perilla was 2 for 3 for Lathrop (0-2).
 
Argonaut 12, Ripon Christian 6
RIPON — The visiting Mustangs (4-0) of Jackson put the game away with an eight-run third inning.
“It’s still early,” Knights coach John De Visser said. “We have a lot of stuff to clean up.
“It was good to see that kind of talent early in season. We have four games next week to get ready for league.
Drake Nelson and Ian Vrieling had good days at the plate for Ripon Christian (1-2) with very competitive at-bats.

BOYS SWIMMING
Sierra 95, W. Ranch 48
STOCKTON — Sierra opened up a big lead after Nik Brink spearheaded a 1-2-3 sweep in the 200-yard individual medley.
Brink also won the 100 breaststroke, was part of the winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays and the Timberwolves improved to 4-0 in the Valley Oak League. Ethan Sanchez (200 free), Isac Ramos (50 free) and Joshua Thomas (100 free) each contributed first-place points.
Garrett Kmiec was Weston Ranch’s top performer with wins in the 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 200 free relay.

GIRLS SWIMMING
Sierra 12, W. Ranch 0
STOCKTON — The Timberwolves moved to 2-2 as Weston Ranch did not field a varsity girls team.
Clocking first-place times were Emilee Holmes (200 free), Ezra Moral (200 IM, 100 back), Meghan Tolman (50 free, 500 free), Reichal Martinez (100 fly), Sophia Allen (100 free) and Jadyn Shinn (1:21.22).

TENNIS
C. Catholic 8, Sierra 1
MODESTO — Jasson Gill registered the Timberwolves’ lone win in the VOL contest, prevailing 7-6, 6-1 at No. 4 singles.
No. 3 singles player Jason Machado narrowly dropped a 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 decision. Quentin Banks was defeated 5-7, 0-6 at No. 1 singles, and No. 2 Fabian Garcia nearly forced a third set but cam eup short, 3-6, 6-7.

JV BASEBALL
Downey 6, Sierra 2
Mikey Elder was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a double for the host Timberwolves.
Sierra’s Zach Fonseca doubled and Brendan Rapisura threw three no-hit innings.