East Union gave Sierra all it could handle in boys tennis action Tuesday at Manteca Regional Tennis Center.
It came down to the No. 2 doubles match, which tilted in Sierra’s favor for a hard-earned 5-4 victory. The Timberwolves (6-2, 7-4 overall) previously handled their rival 8-1 in Valley Oak League play, though the Lancers (3-5, 5-6) did not have their top player, Andrew Delgado.
Underclassmen Reyansh Bansode and Raunak Mahar won that No. 2 doubles match for Sierra, downing Carl Azevedo and Camden Collier, 7-5, 6-4.
The Timberwolves’ got another key win at No. 1 singles, as Harshith Kumar battled back to defeat Delgado, 4-6, 6-3, 10-6. At No. 4 singles, Himmat Dosanjh overcame a 4-1 deficit in the opening set to win 7-5, 6-2.
No. 3 Ashton Hillard fended off Jithin Joy, 7-6 (2), 6-1. Johan Arroyo and Ashvin Gill swept Matthew Roldan and William Simpson at No. 3 doubles, 6-1, 6-0.
Christopher De Santos led East Union with a thrilling win at No. 2 singles, as he edged Ryan Alves, 7-5, 3-6, 13-11. No. 5 Muhammad Hussain held off Noah Brum, 6-4, 6-4. Eli Kotta prevailed at No. 6 singles 6-2, 6-1 over Zainn Ali.
East Union also won the No. 1 doubles match, with Curtis Hansen and Martin Kalladanthyil beating Sagar Shah and Arnav Sah, 6-0, 6-4.
East Union next hosts Central Catholic on Thursday, while Sierra heads to undefeated Mountain House.
BOYS GOLF
Valley Oak League
With Oakdale (381) heading the pack in the second VOL tournament, Central Catholic (451), East Union (452) and Sierra (453) were locked in a tight race for second place at Creekside Golf Course.
Manteca (465), Mountain House (508) and Pattereson (542) rounded out the field.
The Oakdale trio of Julian Velazquez, Fred Herschbach and Estuardo Duque topped the individual standings with 2-over 74s.
Michael Pires paced East Union with a fifth-place 78. Cody Camarena took 10th with an 87. Matthew Neves (93), Chase Kalin (96) and Anthony Oteri (98) also scored for the Lancers.
Ethan Freitas carded an 80 for Manteca, good for sixth place. Jack Corson finished 12th with an 88 and was followed by Cooper Chamberlain (91), Logan Yagi (96) and Van Hendrix (110).
Sierra was led by Jorrden Llamas Mojarro’s ninth-place score of 86. Jace Neto capped the top 10 with an 87. Kevin Casillas added a 90, Richie Cervantez a 94 and Evan Hayne a 96.
The next league tournament is April 2 at Micke Grove Golf Links.
BASEBALL
Lathrop 5, Johansen 3
After blowing an early three-run lead, the Spartans (2-3, 5-10 overall) recovered and scored two in the top of the seventh to escape Modesto with the Western Athletic Conference win.
Starting pitcher Vaughn Sanchez did not get the decision but did all he could, going 4 for 4 with a double and three runs. On the mound, he registered nine strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings, giving up three unearned runs in the fourth inning. The sophomore surrendered five hits and two walks.
Tommy Hammond retired all four batters he faced, striking out one for the win. He was also 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs.
Santino Arranaga went 2 for 3 with a run, and Sacib Labra was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs.
Johansen (0-5, 1-10) visits Lathrop on Thursday.
BASKETBALL
Happy Jack Tournament
In Merced, Calla picked up its second tournament championship in as many weeks on March 13.
The Lobos opened with a 39-13 win over Sequoia and took care of Yosemite, 23-10.
They won the final, 23-17. Keith Joseph led the way with 12 points and 10 blocks. Ronnie Oyler tallied nine points. Sergio Hernandez keyed Calla’s early run with two 3-pointers.
SOFTBALL
Patterson 9, East Union 5
Host Patterson (1-2 VOL, 4-6) rallied for seven runs in the first inning, plated two more in the second and held off the Lancers (0-4, 7-6) the rest of the way.
East Union totaled eight hits, with two coming from Ha’meen Harper. She also knocked in a run. Lily Pickering hit a triple and had three RBIs.
The Lancers will look to rebound Thursday at home against Oakdale.
Central Catholic 7, Manteca 1
The visiting Buffaloes (2-1, 6-3) got first-place Central Catholic’s attention at the outset, as Maleiah Garza plated Marissa San Nicolas with a hit.
It was all Raiders (5-0, 9-3) from there, as they answered with the tying run in the bottom half of the first inning and surged ahead for good with four more in the second.
Manteca starter Riley Ward had to work through early errors, allowing five unearned runs in three innings. Isabel Tonna pitched the final three innings, striking out four. They combined to allow just six hits.
Mountain House 14, Sierra 4 (5)
Mountain House (3-1 VOL, 8-2 overall) broke it open with seven runs in the first two innings and enforced the mercy rule with the final six in the bottom of the fifth.
Valeria Villanueva went 3 for 3 with a double, a run and an RBI for the visiting Timberwolves (1-4, 5-4). Maitland Kohoutek was 2 for 2 with a double and an RBI.
Ripon Christian 7, Sonora 6 (8)
Annabelle Hoff powered the Ripon Christian attack in the Trans Valley League home game with a double, a triple, two runs and three RBIs in a productive 5-for-5 outing. She was also the winning pitcher, firing 12 strikeouts in the complete game.
Belle Gordo went 3 for 4, Raegan Colace drove in two runs and Austynn MacWilliams went 2 for 3 with four steals and three runs scored.
The Knights (1-2, 2-7 overall) head to Hilmar on Thursday.
