The Sierra swim team opened its Valley Oak League schedule Friday at Manteca High’s R. Stephen Winter Pool and came away with dual victories.
The Timberwolves won the boys competition 73-44, while the girls coasted, 140-28.
Peter Espinosa provided some highlights for the host Buffaloes, winning the 100-yard butterfly and 500 freestyle. He narrowly beat Sierra’s Bayan Ballew (1:04.17) to the wall in the butterfly, finishing in 1 minute, 3.96 seconds.
Manteca’s Andres Barajas won the 100 breaststroke. He and Espinosa were joined by Miguel Cocio and Kalum Kicenski on the winning 200 medley relay.
Carson Murray was part of four first-place finishes for the Sierra boys. Individually, he edged out teammate Noah Sandoval to claim the 200 free, won the 100 backstroke and was on the winning 200 free and 400 free relays with Dallin Murray, Ballew and Sandoval.
Ballew blazed to the victory in the 50 free before diving right back in for his runner-up finish in the 100 fly. Sandoval held off Dallin Murray for the win in the 100 free. Travis Moore won the 200 individual medley.
Sierra swept the top three places in eight events.
Four-event winners Keira Brink (50 free, 100 free, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay) and Bianca Fraser (200 IM, 100 fly, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay) led the way. Keira Brink contributed first-place points in the 50 free
Stephanie Thomason fended off teammate Molly Allen to win both the 200 free and 500 free. Abigail Fraser (1:17.20) squeaked out the win in the 100 back against Charlene Trinh (1:17.84).
Kaylee Hayne won the 100 breast and was part of the winning 200 medley relay. Phoebe Burke (200 free) and Gianna Ramos (200 medley, 200 free) also contributed on the relays. Kenidee Bauer, Madison Madrid, Allen and Trinh teamed up to win the 400 free relay.
Individual winners for Sierra’s JV girls: Rylee Daniel (100 IM), Abigail Garcia (50 free), Elianah Zhou (50 fly, 100 free), Peyton Nultemeier (50 back) and Jewels Shinn (50 breast).
Sierra next travels to Patterson next Friday, March 7, while Manteca heads across town to East Union.
BASEBALL
Sierra 1, Pitman 0
Rudy Barney belted a two-out triple to plate Ricardo Anaya (leadoff single) in the bottom of the first, and the pitching combination of Riley Kane and Cole Martin took it from there for the triumphant Timberwolves (2-2) at Jack Thomson Stadium.
Martin also connected for Sierra’s third and final hit of the game.
“Runs were hard to come by today with two good pitchers starting on the mound,” Sierra coach Travis Thomson said. “We only had three hits on the day, and two of them came in the first inning. I felt we had a lot of good at-bats, and we were starting to figure out how we can manufacture some runs. We are pitching well and play great defense, so we are really optimistic going into league next week.”
Kane was the winning pitcher after striking out four over the first four innings. He also gave up no hits and no walks.
Martin closed it out for the long save, locking down the win with two pop-ups in the seventh inning with Pitman (1-3) stranding the tying run at second base. He struck out three and walked one.
Ben Vilhauer fired seven strikeouts but took the loss for Pitman despite his three-hit gem.
Ripon Christian 12, Lathrop 0 (5)
The Knights (5-1) bounced back from their first loss with a dominant road victory.
Sophomore Mateo Ceja pitched a three-hitter, recording five strikeouts and two walks.
Overall, Ripon Christian had just five hits but capitalized on five walks and seven hit batters. Freshman Trenton Cloward went 2 for 4 with two steals, a double, a run and two RBIs. Garrett Pollard contributed an RBI double and two runs. Noah DeBruyn plated two runs and drove in two. Stadtler Postma scored three runs.
Tommy Hammond roped a double for Lathrop (1-5).
March Madness
East Union 16, Downey 0
East Union 10, Pioneer 1
The bats came alive for East Union in its two games at Downey (0-4) in Modesto.
The Lancers opened with the five-inning thumping against the tourney host in the morning. Sophomore Peyton Heath pitched the mercy-shortened one-hitter, striking out 11 while walking two.
Blake Mount powered the attack, slugging two homers while going 2 for 2 with three runs and three RBIs. Freshman Ryan Allen went 2 for 2 with two doubles and four RBIs. Jackson Fay drove in three runs, plated two and legged out a triple. Kirk Simoni added a double and two RBIs.
East Union then took care of Pioneer (1-3) out of Woodland.
Mount continued his offensive tear, hitting a triple while driving in three runs. He was also walked twice and hit once and pitched an inning in relief. Heath hacked a homer, finishing with two runs and three RBIs. Davien Fagundes added two hits, and Joe Alvarez had two RBIs.
Winning pitcher Frankie Ostreicher gave up two hits and struck out three over five innings.
The Lancers continue tournament action today against Turlock (2-2-1) starting at 1.
SOFTBALL
Manteca 7, Calaveras 3
In San Andreas, the visiting Buffaloes (4-1) gained separation with a five-run second inning, and pitcher Isabel Tonna held off the Red Hawks (0-1) for the win. The junior hurler collected seven strikeouts while giving up four hits and one walk.
Sienna Lowery drilled two doubles, scored a run and drove in another. Lauren Moncada also clubbed a double, driving in two runs. Na’ima Calderon, Alesia Harris and Riley Ward each chipped in an RBI.
Gregori 6, Ripon 4
Ripon (1-4) racked up 14 hits but left 13 runners on base.
Izabelle Spurzem hit 4 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Addison Naranjo went 3 for 4 with a run, an RBI and three stolen bases. Emilie Benavides also drove in a run.
Audrey Pacheco hit a homer and drove in three runs for Gregori (4-1).
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Mountain House 3, Lathrop 1
The Spartans (1-2) came up short against their former Western Athletic Conference rival, 18-25, 20-25, 25-23, 17-25.
Gabriel Fa’ali’i paced Lathrop with 18 kills, two service aces, a solo block and eight digs. Edmund Balugo distributed 30 assists. Cameron Loyola chimed in with six kills.
