Modesto JC’s Roberts launches shot put to victory at Stanford

Modesto Junior College freshman Daniel Roberts was not intimidated by older talent from larger schools Saturday at the 40th Stanford Track and Field Invitational.

Undaunted, Roberts won the collegiate division shot put with a personal best of 56 feet, 71/2 inches. He took the lead on his fifth attempt to defeat eventual runner-up Gary Randolph of Cal State Stanislaus (54-11/4). Jack Lembcke of Washington was third (52-2).

Roberts capped his big weekend with seconds in the collegiate hammer (a personal-best 189-3) and collegiate discus (170-3). Randolph also stood out with a sixth in the invitational hammer (192-2).

The Stanislaus women also celebrated with a 1-2 finish in the collegiate hammer throw, as Lindsay McKee won with a 178-8, followed by Krystal Alnas with a 174-2. The Warrior tandem topped athletes from Notre Dame, Stanford and Texas A&M.

Baseball

Stanislaus sweeps – Improved offense this week keyed Cal State Stanislaus’ four-game sweep at Cal State San Bernardino (6-26, 4-19 CCAA), capped by an 8-4 win. Nick Molina went 2 for 3 with three RBIs and Nick Ippolito was 3 for 4 to lead the Warriors (14-19, 9-14), who have won seven of eight.

Stanislaus, which outscored San Bernardino 37-13 over the four games, also received two hits apiece from Scott Stetson and Erik Colombini. A six-run fifth proved pivotal for the Warriors.

MJC is beaten – MJC (10-15-1, 4-8 Big 8) scored twice in the ninth but was beaten at American River 3-2, as the Beavers (12-15, 4-8) took the rubber game of the three-game series. The teams are tied for last place in the Big 8.

Run-scoring singles by pinch hitter Joe Pedlowe and Colt Parshall closed the margin for Modesto. Starter Brent Montgomery (2-3) allowed two earned runs in five innings, but an unearned run in the fifth proved to be the difference. Noel Sanchez kept the Pirates close with three innings of shutout relief. Parshall and William Reeder had two hits apiece.

Softball

Doubleheader loss – San Francisco State, bouncing back from a doubleheader loss Friday, swept Cal State Stanislaus 4-2 and 8-0 in Turlock. The Warriors (13-25, 5-19 CCAA) gave up four runs in the final two innings in the opener. The Gators (10-28, 5-19) completed the sweep with Jenny Obbema’s four-hit shutout.

Natalie Dorsey and Morgan Balestreri of Stanislaus had two hits each in the first game, and pitcher Jessica Varaday tripled home two.

Tennis

Warriors fall – Holy Names won its 11th consecutive match by beating Cal State Stanislaus 6-3 in Oakland. Jessica Laurie and J’Ana Diamond, the Warriors’ top singles players, rallied from behind for three-set wins. Diamond and Analyssa Tallas captured their doubles match for the other Stanislaus point.

This story was originally published April 4, 2015 at 10:42 PM with the headline "Modesto JC’s Roberts launches shot put to victory at Stanford."