By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Spring Break Slows Sports Activity For RHS Athletes
Villapudua pix
Bruin pitcher Carlos Villapudua, 22, has been a strong, steady presence for the Riverbank varsity squad on the mound this season. The boys took fourth place this past week in the Central Valley tournament. Ric McGinnis/The News

Riverbank High School athletes, for the most part, took last week off for Spring Break, with the exception of Bruin baseball.

The RHS varsity baseball team went to Ceres last week to participate in the Central Valley High School tournament.

Head Coach Scott Chambers said it was not a bad week of baseball, despite a few losses along the way.

“We lost game one to Kimball out of Tracy, 3-0 on Monday. Tuesday was rained out and was rescheduled to Wednesday,” he reported.

That game was rescheduled to create a doubleheader on Wednesday. In the first game, the Bruins beat host Central Valley High School 2-1, then they defeated Delhi, with pitcher Nik Mayfield throwing a one-hit shutout. RHS won that game by an 11-0 final, providing plenty of offensive support for Mayfield.

“The final game on Thursday, we lost to Johansen, 5-3, and took fourth place out of the eight teams present,” Chambers said. “Could have been better but small victories now will turn into big ones later on.”

Varsity baseball was scheduled to host a make-up game of a rainout from earlier in April, against Mountain House, on Monday, April 24, but then have their bye week and don’t play again until the first week of May. There are only four games left in their Trans-Valley League season.

 

SOFTBALL

Girls softball was to resume with a home game against Hilmar on Tuesday, April 25 and they’re set to host the Lady Mustangs of Mountain House in a make-up game this afternoon, Wednesday, April 26. They’ll have two games on the road next week, followed by two more at home the week after, closing out their season.

 

TRACK AND FIELD

The only Riverbank track and field athlete that competed over spring break was Alondra Hernandez.

“She competed in the Bella Vista Invitational and place eighth overall with a new personal record of 5:19,” said Head Coach Monte Wood. “This was only her third competitive 1600 in her career, and it is nice to see her times continue to drop. She has blazing speed but now just needs a little more race experience to really live up to her potential.”

This week the Bruins host Ripon on Wednesday, April 26 in a dual meet and then on Friday afternoon, April 28 at 4 p.m. they are hosting the inaugural Ron Hebert Thrower’s Challenge.

“Then at 7 p.m. we will be hosting the inaugural German Fernandez Distance Carnival. Looking forward to hosting the meets and honoring the history of Riverbank Track and Field,” Wood said.

Escalon visits next Wednesday, May 3 to close out the regular season. League, Section and Masters meets follow.

 

TENNIS

Taking the court this week, the RHS tennis team was to play their final league match of the season yesterday, Tuesday, April 25 against the Cougars of Escalon. The Trans-Valley League Tournament is set for Friday and Saturday, at the SOS Club in Modesto, closing out their season, followed by Team and Individual Sections the first week in May.