Some of Riverbank High’s spring sports teams saw their first action of the season last week, with non-league scrimmages the rule this week as well.
Here is a brief recap of the start of spring action.
Softball Starts At Home
The first action of the season came on Wednesday, Feb. 24, with the Lady Bruin softball team taking the home field against Central Catholic High School’s Raiders in a scrimmage.
The next day, they hosted Linden’s Lady Lions in another scrimmage. The games saw many of the RHS players switching positions from inning to inning, and scoring was not recorded.
Next up for softball, they were to travel to Gustine, on Highway 33, south of Newman, in Merced County, on Tuesday, then the girls were to compete in the Rainbow Tournament here in Riverbank March 2 through 5.
Co-Ed Tennis Team Gears Up
Both boys and girls tennis got underway on Friday, Feb. 26, with a scrimmage match hosting Ripon Christian High School. Again, wins and losses didn’t matter (though Riverbank technically outscored the Knights, 5-4) with many of the team members playing competitively for the first time.
This week, Riverbank was to host Orestimba today, March 2, then host the all-day Riverbank Doubles Tourney on Friday, March 4, with tennis action on all 12 tennis courts in town. The Bruin netters don'’ play again until next Friday, when they host the Argonaut Mustangs of Jackson.
Bruin Baseball Starts On Road
On Saturday, Feb. 27, Riverbank traveled to nearby Waterford to jump start their 2016 season with a pair of non-league games against the Wildcats.
Again, the scrimmages didn’t count for anything in the standings, but the Bruin varsity brought in eight runs while Waterford left several runners stranded on the bases, but none scored. Much like their softball counterparts, players moved around to several positions during the game, with several catchers and pitchers playing during the seven innings of the varsity game.
Riverbank baseball was to travel to Johansen High of Modesto on Tuesday, March 1, and is expected to visit the Summerville Bears in Tuolumne County on Monday, March 7.
Soccer Kicks Off This Week
Both varsity and JV girls soccer scrimmage matches were to start this week, with the Lady Bruins hosting Weston Ranch from Stockton yesterday, March 1, then they were to travel to the ‘Buff’ Tournament hosted by the Lady Buffaloes of Manteca High School on Friday and Saturday, March 4 and 5. They play in a tournament the next weekend, too, at the Mother Lode Gold Cup at Amador High School on March 11 and 12.
Track and Field
A dual meet was to get things started this week with both boys and girls teams welcoming Sierra of Manteca and Downey of Modesto to help inaugurate the brand new Bruin all-weather facility with its first competitive track and field meet at Angelo Novi Stadium on the RHS campus, yesterday, March 1. They are to compete in the Sierra Relays in Manteca on Saturday, March 5, then return home on Monday, March 7, to host the Bruin Team Challenge.
Boys Golf
Also, Bruin golfers were to start their season against Tracy High School at the Tracy Country Club yesterday, March 1, after The News went to press.
