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TWolves on the prowl
Sierra routs crosstown rival to stay in contention
SOFT-MAN vs SIE pic 1
JONAMAR JACINTO/The Bulletin Sierra second baseman Dawn Kilpatrick gets ready to turn a double play to end the first inning after sidestepping Manteca’s Kayla Campbell.

Rain kept Friday’s originally-scheduled Valley Oak League contest with rival Manteca from happening.
And Sierra brought the thunder in the make-up game Monday at Manteca High, where the Timberwolves stormed out to an 11-run lead in two innings and slugged 19 total hits to cruise to a 16-0 victory in five innings.
With Oakdale beating Ceres 6-1 Monday, Sierra is part of a wild four-way share of the VOL’s top spot with two regular-season games to go. If the quartet, a group that includes East Union, finishes the rest of the week undefeated, coin flips will decide which two clubs advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs.
“We haven’t practiced in a while, so we did pretty good considering,” said Sierra’s Karissa Valdez, who was 3 for 5 with a team-high five RBIs.

Save for a leadoff error in the bottom of the first, Sierra (9-3, 16-6-2 overall) showed no signs of rust.

Gabby Hawkins threw a complete-game two-hitter with four strikeouts and a walk. Trina Solario broke up the no-no bid with a sharp single to left in the fourth, and Raylynn Saint belted a deep single to right in the fifth. Saint was out at second on the play, as she tried to stretch her knock to a double.

The rest was left up to the Timberwolves’ scorching bats.

Heather Scharmann led the way with a 4-for-5 effort, including two doubles and three runs. Hawkins helped herself by going 3 for 4 with a two-run double in the first and three total runs from the cleanup spot.

Natalie Goulart was 2 for 3 with a double and two runs. From the top two spots of the order, Monica Morado (two RBIs) and Emily Silvia (two runs) were each 2 for 5. Christa Crain contributed a two-RBI single to the hit parade in the second inning.
“They did a good job with the bat,” Sierra coach Nick Olmo said. “Everybody came through and I was able to get everybody in. They did their jobs on the field and they did their jobs at the plate, so I’m pretty happy all the way around.”

Both teams will be on the road Wednesday, with Sierra heading to Sonora and Manteca (3-9, 6-14) looking to play spoiler against Oakdale.

To contact Jonamar Jacinto, e-mail jjacinto@mantecabulletin.com, or call (209) 249-3538.