Spring is officially here and the sports season continues to play out for the Riverbank High School squads. Recent action saw the start of the Mother Lode League schedule for the softball girls, while the baseball, track and field, and boys volleyball teams also faced off with opponents.

SOFTBALL

Finally getting to play a Mother Lode League game, the varsity softball Lady Bruins got the victory. They faced off at home against Big Valley Christian on Friday, March 20 and edged out the Lions by a 2-1 final.

“Maya Guzman threw a one-hit, 16-strikeout game,” head coach Jeff Borden said. “Briseida Felix hit a line drive shot over the left field fence for a home run.”

Felix drove in both runs on the afternoon and had a double to go along with her home run. Janelle Montoya and Maya Guzman each had a hit.

The girls were scheduled to play at Calaveras on March 24 and then host the Calaveras team on Friday, March 27.

BASEBALL

A couple of lopsided losses went on the books for Riverbank’s varsity baseball team. They fell on the road at Summerville on March 17, losing by a 14-4 decision. Then, they lost by a 10-2 decision at home, hosting Big Valley Christian on March 21.

In the game against Summerville, each team had five hits but it was the miscues in the field that did in the Bruins, as they committed 11 errors in the game.

Cody Martin, Isaiah Deras and Xavier Lopez each drove in a run, Keegan Loe had two hits, including a double, and Conner Worth scored a pair of runs.

Big Valley Christian scored five runs in the top of the second to take a lead they would never give up, continuing to add on; Riverbank got two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Loe was the offensive leader for Riverbank, going 2-for-3 with a run scored, a double and a triple. Daniel Garnica went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Lorenzo Lopez had the other RBI for Riverbank.

The varsity boys were scheduled to be at Calaveras on March 23 and host Calaveras on March 27.

TRACK AND FIELD

In action on Saturday, March 21, the Bruins had 17 middle distance and distance athletes compete at the Dublin Distance Fiesta at Dublin High School.

“The meet is one of the biggest track meets put on in the country with more than 240 schools and over 4000 athletes represented,” noted RHS coach Sam Gong.

Riverbank came away with some solid performances, the coach added.

“This group of runners continue training at the end of the fall cross country season through the whole winter, so our athletes were eager to cash in on all the hard work they have put in,” Gong explained. “That’s exactly what they did, 12 of the Riverbank athletes set personal best marks and four more set season best marks in their respective events.”

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

The varsity Bruin boys fell in two contests this past week. They lost by a 3-0 decision to Orestimba and lost in straight sets to Ripon Christian, both matches played on the home court. Scores against RC were 5-25, 7-23, 7-25; the Bruins lost to the Warriors 8-25, 16-25, 14-25.

Next, they are scheduled to be on the road at Big Valley Christian for a match on March 25 and then play at Ripon on March 30.