Spring sun shone more kindly on Riverbank High sports teams over the past week, with mixed results on the scoreboards. Following is a recap of the action.
BASEBALL
On Monday, March 27, both varsity and JV baseball teams got in a double header at Hilmar, making up for the rain out from the week before, as well as the regularly scheduled league game. Unfortunately, both Bruin teams fared poorly, with the varsity going down 5-2, and 8-4, and the JV Bruins losing 11-0 and 5-2.
Later in the week, they played a pair of games against league rival Escalon. On Wednesday, March 29, both Riverbank teams fell to the Cougars on the road, by identical 9-1 scores. On Friday, at home, they also suffered losses to the Cougars, the varsity losing 5-0 and the JV going down, 9-4.
In the varsity game on Wednesday, the Bruins battled valiantly through six innings, tied at 1-1 and seeing starting pitcher Carlos Villapudua take a no-hitter into the sixth. But the host Cougars then put together a string of hits against some relief pitching and scored eight runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead and ultimately the win.
This week, the Bruin squads will be traveling to Mountain House today, April 5, then hosting the Mustangs on Friday, April 7.
SOFTBALL
In non-league action Monday, March 27 the girls hosted Ben Holt College Preparatory Academy from Stockton, coming out on top of an 18-2 score in just four-and-a-half innings (10-run rule).
On March 29, they traveled to O’Neal CA to take on the Lady Mustangs of Minaret High School, coming away with a 15-4 win. The next day, they traveled to Oakhurst to play the Badgers of Yosemite High School, winning 9-3. And they got a bonus, their annual trip to Yosemite National Park, according to coach Cassi Ross. And she reported she beat them to the top of Vernal Falls, the only one to make it all the way, according to reports.
Tomorrow, April 6, the Lady Bruins will travel to Modesto Christian High School to resume Trans-Valley League play and on Friday, April 7, they go to Hilmar. They will be back home on Tuesday, April 11 to host Escalon.
TENNIS
Action on Thursday, March 30, saw the Bruin teams go to Hughson to take on the Huskies in tennis, and came away with 7-2 team win.
Individual wins included boys singles Sean Harcrow and Jason Montalvo. Girls singles saw Lili Trevino win, 2-6, 6-0, 6-1.
In boys doubles, Alejandro Manzo and Jesus Aguiniga scored 6-3, 6-0 for the win, and Christian Bolanos and Erik Estrada tallied a 6-2, 6-4 victory.
Girls doubles saw Jasmine Rubio and Jackie Pantoja score a 6-4, 6-1 win, and Carla and Alondra Ibarra came away with a 6-2, 6-4 match win.
They traveled to face the Escalon Cougars on Friday, March 31 and were leading when the match was halted due to darkness; the remaining mixed doubles match that was still in progress will be completed when the teams meet again in league play.
Bruin tennis was to host Ripon yesterday, April 4, and travel to Mountain House on Friday.
TRACK AND FIELD
Both the boys and the girls team lost close meets on Wednesday.
“I am proud of them because they really battled hard and gave themselves a chance to win. In the end we just ran out of boys. Our numbers were down due to injuries and ineligible boys,” said head coach Monte Wood. “We are getting healthier though, and our young kids are getting better.”
Zac Richison was the star of the day with wins in the pole vault, long jump, 110 hurdles, and 300 hurdles.
“He set a big personal record in the 110 hurdles,” added Wood. “On the girls’ side, the Hughson girls have a very talented team, and we came close to beating them.”
Alondra Hernandez started the meet off with a 13 second PR in the 1600.
“She outkicked a Hughson runner for the win and got the fans on their feet,” Wood said. “Alexa Gutierrez won four events. She won the 100, 200, ran on the 4x100 relay and on the 4x400 relay.
“The 4x400 relay was the show stopper. Aliza Teixeira, Alexa Gutierrez, Valerian Aguiniga, and Alondra Hernandez ran a blazing time of 4:13 for the win.”
Wood said the foursome is a team that could “very well set the school record” by the end of the season.
The runners, jumpers and throwers on the Bruin team are scheduled to travel today, Wednesday, April 5 to face off with Hilmar.
News Editor Marg Jackson contributed to this report.
