It was in defeat that Robert Vernon realized he had a special group of players in front of him. Flashback to the Ripon High’s final game of the 2018 season when his Indians came up short 11-5 in a second-round slugfest at Sierra, the eventual two-time Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV champion led by Lindsey Walljasper. She now pitches for Nebraska as a true freshman. Vernon was not discouraged — quite the opposite. One year later, his vision turned to validation. Ripon has been recognized as one of the best teams in California. On Tuesday, the Indians were officially named Cal-Hi Sports Division IV State Team of the Year. It’s the fourth spring-season program from the area to earn a mythical state crown in recent years, joining the likes of East Union’s 2015 Division III softball team, Manteca’s 2014 Division III baseball team and Sierra’s 2013 Division IV softball team.