The Vernal Equinox brought the first day of spring on Monday, March 20 but it also brought lots of rain, postponing many scheduled games, meets and matches for Riverbank High School athletes last week. It even washed out hopes of rescheduled baseball games at home on Saturday afternoon.

Overnight showers Friday left the Bruin varsity field still too wet to play on March 25. It was hoped the varsity and well as JV teams would be able to get in a home game against Hilmar, delayed from Wednesday by rain. Despite the efforts of team members to clear the field, it was just too wet.

The plan then put in place was to play double headers for both teams at Hilmar on the scheduled match up for this past Monday, but the rain late Sunday may have prevented that as well, depending on the Hilmar field conditions.

Tennis and softball were also affected by the downpours. It was unknown at press time when the league games might be made up.

BASEBALL

The weather predictions for this week called for continued sunshine, so in addition to the Monday hoped-for double header, the baseball teams were scheduled to play today, March 29 in Escalon. They’re set for a home game against Escalon on Friday, March 31. Next week, their scheduled games include a road contest at Mountain House on Wednesday, April 5 and then completion of the ‘home and home’ series hosting the Mustangs on Friday, April 7.

SOFTBALL

The Lady Bruins were hoping to get in a game on Monday, hosting Ben Holt College Prep Academy from Stockton. They’re scheduled to play at Minarets High School in O’Neal, CA, Thursday, March 30 and then at Yosemite High School in Oakhurst, at the southern end of Highway 49, on Friday.

TENNIS

The Bruin tennis teams were set to compete in Hughson on Tuesday, after The News went to press and will be at Escalon for another Trans-Valley League match on Friday.

TRACK & FIELD

The TVL Relays were on the schedule this past week, hosted by Ripon on March 2 and they did go off as scheduled.

“We were missing several key athletes for part or all of the meet, so as a team we didn’t do as well as we could have,” noted head coach Monte Wood. “Our distance runners have been depleted due to injuries, but they are all starting to get healthy, so the next few weeks we should really be ready to put our team together.”

The relay format has just a few events, with a handful of participants from each school allowed in each event.

“The boy’s triple jump team won the triple jump. Zac Richison, Theo Luu and Jalen Spikes all set personal records to edge out Ripon for first place,” Wood explained. “The high jump team was second but Jalen Spikes had to leave for a band concert, so he didn’t get to complete the event.”

Xavier Esquivel won the event and Mico Bargas set a new personal record, six-inches better than his best previous jump, with a leap of 5’4” in only his second competition.

“We start our dual meet season this Wednesday (March 29) against Hughson,” added Wood. “Hughson was to host the meet but due to the rain it has been moved to Riverbank.”

The Kristina Martinez Memorial Junior High Meet will be held on the RHS all-weather track tomorrow, Thursday, March 30.