Paced by co-medalist Hudson Schenk, Ripon Christian garnered its eighth Sac-Joaquin Section boys golf championship on Monday after edging out rival Ripon in the Division V tournament at Micke Grove Golf Links.
It’s the Knights’ first section title in Division V. They had a streak of four consecutive in Division VI before moving back into the Trans Valley League last year. The top team and six individuals advance to the SJS Masters Tournament set for Tuesday, May 19 at The Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton.
Schenk, now a two-time Division V co-medalist, scored six birdies en route to a 4-under-par 68, sharing the lead with Ripon’s Cru Sullivan — one of the Indians’ three individual qualifiers for Masters.
Schenk and the Knights outshot Ripon, 383-394. Third-place Oakmont finished with a 402 and was followed by Lincoln (438) and Liberty Ranch (446) in the top five.
Ripon Christian’s Matthew Ubick was part of a third-way tie for fourth place with a 71. Freshman Thomas Graham tallied a 74 for sixth place. Carter Van Groningen (13th place, 79) and Jeremy Molloy (38th, 91) followed suit.
Joining Sullivan at Masters for Ripon are fellow sophomores Andrew Bogetti (fifth, 72) and Alan Bunchien (sixth, 74). Sam Stewart (32nd, 88) and Christian Taylor (41st, 92) also contributed to the Indians’ score.
Division III
Jorrden Llamas Mojarro of Sierra is the lone player from the area to earn a spot in the Masters tourney out of Division III. Manteca’s Ethan Freitas is an alternate.
Two teams and six individuals move on. Valley Oak League champion Oakdale won the team event with a 384 at Pheasant Run Golf Course in Chowchilla. Runner-up Twelve Bridges trailed by five strokes. Eduardo Duque of Oakdale was low medalist at 8-under 64.
Sierra placed 10th in the team standings with a 437. Llamas Mojarro led the Timberwoles with a 1-under 71, good for fourth place. Also scoring were Jace Neto (84), Richard Cervantes (91), Kevin Casillas (94) and Aiden Cotten (97).
Freitas carded a 74, and fellow Buffalo Cooper Chamberlain had an 80. East Union’s Michael Pires was also in the running for a Masters berth, finishing with a 75. Cody Camarena, also from EU, added an 83.
Division IV
Lathrop junior Brayden Beckmann will make his third Masters appearance.
He split low-medalist honors at Wildhorse Golf Club in Davis with a 73, which includes five birdies.
COED TENNIS
Trans Valley League
The three-day TVL Tournament concluded Saturday at Modesto Junior College, and two doubles teams advanced to the finals while qualifying for the SJS Individual Tournament
Alyssa Lan and Sophia Douglas were seeded third for the girls doubles tournament and knocked off No. 2 Marina Franzia and Chloe Green in the semifinals. They then met Orestimba top-seeded duo of Mirella Fregoso and Sofiah Ramirez, who fended off the Indians’ pair, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4.
Ripon Christian had the runner-up tandem in mixed doubles. Top-seeded Kora Harris and Derek Meester beat River Islands’ Pravnat Cheganti and Kayzin Zarni in the semifinals before falling to Escalon’s Nathan Rose and Emma Rangel, 4-6, 6-3, 0-6.
Three local individuals had already earned their tickets to the section tourney scheduled for May 18-19 at Oak Park Tennis Center in Stockton. The TVL’s boys singles representatives are River Islands sophomores Pranad Sai and Sai Nagavarapu, the first- and second-place finishers, respectively. Ripon sophomore Brookelyn Betschart was runner-up to Sonora’s Kylie Serva.
SOFTBALL
Lathrop 7, Central Valley 7
In Ceres, Lathrop (8-4, 13-8-1) scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to hand Central Valley (12-1, 15-9) its first Western Athletic Conference loss of the season.
Kendall Stewart racked up five RBIs, going 2 for 4 with a double and a run. Freshman Avaihna Calderon (two doubles, three runs, RBI), Tatianna Lopez and Tianna Gonzalez all hit 3 for 4.
Maci De Costa was the winning pitcher, striking out seven in the complete-game effort.
The Spartans host Beyer on Wednesday with a postseason berth on the line.
Manteca 12, Mountain House 4
Na’ima Calderon slugged a pair of homers and registered six RBIs, as the Buffaloes (9-4, 15-8 overall) concluded their Valley Oak League schedule with the lopsided win. The junior finished 3 for 4 with two runs.
Bella Cooper (two steals, double, three runs, RBI) and Ayva Wilkins (three runs) were both 3 for 4. Neriah Florez went 2 for 4 with a run. Maleiah Garza contributed a homer and two RBIs.
Sophomore Emily Lopez (3 2/3 innings) and Riley Ward (3 1/3 innings, one hit, five strikeouts) split time in the pitcher’s circle. Manteca rolled to 6-0 lead until Mountain House (4-8, 10-11) made things interesting with a four-run rally in the bottom of the fifth.
The Buffs wrap up regular-season play Wednesday at home against Gregori.
