Ripon Christian's baseball team made a big statement Thursday with its 9-6 win over perennial Valley Oak League contender Oakdale. 

It's the first win of the early season for the Knights (1-3), a Southern Athletic League member playing in the VOL this season. Oakdale (3-1) was handed its first loss but made things interesting in the end after falling behind, 7-1.

The Mustangs rallied for four runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth to close in, 7-6. Ripon Christian padded the lead with two runs in the bottom half, and relief pitcher Caleb Terpsma held them off in the seventh for the two-inning save. 

Ripon Christian jumped ahead for good with a six-run flurry in the third, which broke a 1-1 tie. The Knights totaled 10 hits and were led by Micah English (2 for 4, double) and his three RBIs and two runs. Jay Hoekstra finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Terpsma was 2 for 3 with two runs. Joseph DeBruyn contributed two RBIs. 

Freshman Duston Hoekstra was the winning pitcher. 

Kimball 7, Weston Ranch 0

Alejandro Piedra legged out a single up the middle in the bottom of the seventh inning to break up a no-hit bid from Kimball's Israel Velazquez. 

Ayden Tinsley pitched four-plus innings for Weston Ranch (1-3) but was done in by four errors behind him. Kimball improved to 4-0 in the VOL and 4-2 overall. 

BOYS GOLF

Beyer at Lathrop, n

Salvador Reyes finished 10-over 46 for Lathrop on Wednesday, and Matthew Hammond carded a season-best 65 at Manteca Park Golf Course. John Wall Jr. added a 58.

Beyer's Sebastian Tuers and Jisselle Hinchey both scored a 58. Both teams forfeited due to lack of players.

Mountain House 290, Lathrop n

At Tracy Golf and Country Club on Tuesday, the visiting Spartans did not field enough players to record a team score. Salvador Reyes and John Wall Jr. each led the way with a 54. 

Dominic Moreno and Noah Ursal were co-medalists with 52s for Mountain House. 

JV SOFTBALL

East Union 20, Manteca 4

The Lancers broke it open with a seven spot in the top of the third inning Wednesday, swatting eight hits in the process.

Marissa Harper finished 4 for 5 with a two-run homer, two triples and five RBIs. Dillan Blevins also went 4 for 5, adding two RBIs and two doubles. Winning pitcher Kim Wlordarczyk scattered five hits over five innings. 

Ariana Haro highlighted had a three-run triple for Manteca, and Ally Rayschman contributed a homer

East Union 16, Kimball 6

Dillan Blevins fanned seven batters in five innings, helping East Union remain undefeated at 4-0. 

Lizabeth Johnson went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs. Cecelia Avalos hammered a three-run double.