MODESTO — Make it four straight final-round appearances for Sierra’s Kaitlyn Rausa.
On Tuesday, the third-seeded senior won three straight matches, including an upset of Manteca freshman Katie Kim, in the Valley Oak League Singles Tournament hosted by Central Catholic. Rausa, a one-time league champion (2017), will meet Ellie Kim of Manteca — Katie’s sister — in the title round Thursday during the doubles tournament.
The top two players in the league were knocked out in the semifinal round. Top-seeded Central Catholic junior Colleen Ballatore, who went undefeated in league duals, retired against Ellie Kim, the No. 4 seed.
Kim is a former teammate of Rausa’s having transferred from Sierra after 2017-18. She previously met Rausa during the league tournament last season, losing, 3-6, 2-6. She opened with an 8-0 shutout of Oakdale’s Jessica Garcia and dispatched Central Catholic’s Katherine Juarez, 6-1, 6-2.
Rausa also had first-round bye and ousted Kimball’s Kate Blumenfeld 8-0 to start her run. She then cruised past Sahiba Kaur of Manteca 6-0, 6-1 to set up her third showdown with Katie Kim. Rausa prevailed 6-0, 7-6 after falling 4-6, 3-6 and 6-7 (3), 0-6 in their previous duels.
The doubles tournament is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, with the singles final start at around 11. The finalists for both singles and doubles qualify for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Individual Tournament on Nov. 7-8 at Johnson Ranch Racquet Club in Roseville.
GOLF
SJS Division IV
NICOLAUS — After finishing 9-5 in Western Athletic Conference play, Lathrop capped its best season in school history on Monday when three Spartans competed in the SJS Division IV Tournament.
Abigail Bautista finished with a 125, Zaiba Fazli a 131 and Amanda Zamora a 133 at River Oaks Golf Club. West Campus won the tournament’s team title with a 509 and advances to the SJS Masters Championships set for next Monday at The Reserve at Spanos Park. West Campus’ Gen Cha was low medalist with a 79.
WATER POLO
Los Banos 12, Lathrop 6 (G)
Los Banos 11, Lathrop 3 (B)
LATHROP —MJ Bergren netted a pair of goals for the Lathrop girls. Shelia Saldana, Delaney Vega, Hannah Stewart and Sophia Serrano added one apiece. Samantha Nuno fired four goals for Los Banos.
J.R. Stevenson struck twice for the Spartans boys team, while Jermaine Buckley accounted for the other goal. John Paul Vanderpoel paced the visiting Tigers with three.
