Prep Notebook: Manteca’s Sierra chasing baseball, softball Sac-Joaquin Section titles

It’s been a historic year for Sierra High School athletics and it has the potential to get even better in the next week.

The baseball and softball teams are poised for deep Sac-Joaquin Section playoff runs, solidified by their opening performances.

The Timberwolves’ baseball team routed El Camino on Thursday at McAuliffe Memorial Ballpark in Sacramento.

Tanner Peterson and Hunter Johnson drove in two runs apiece as second-seeded Sierra stormed into the semifinal round of the Division III playoffs with a 12-2 win.

Speaking of Johnson, the 6-foot-4 senior is at the heart of the school’s athletic success.

He was an all-league wide receiver for a football team that shared the Valley Oak League championship with Oakdale.

In the winter, the Cal State Maritime commit was named the VOL’s co-MVP, splitting that honor with teammate and lifelong friend Joshua Patton.

Together, the two helped lead Sierra to a fourth straight VOL championship, its first section championship, a 30-win season and a Northern California regional victory.

The sweep of the VOL’s major boys sports is believed to be the first of its kind in the league’s modern history, according to league commissioner Norm Antinetti and Sierra athletic director Anthony Chapman.

The Timberwolves aren’t done just yet.

The baseball team will take on No. 11 Yuba City in a best-of-three semifinal series, beginning Saturday at McAuliffe at 3 p.m.

The softball team is just as motivated in its quest for a third section title, angered some by its bump to Division IV.

While its VOL counterparts – champion East Union and Oakdale – remained in Division III, Sierra slipped to D-IV.

The Timberwolves took out their frustrations on two higher seeds, pummeling No. 4 Union Mine before banishing top seed Vista del Lago to the loser’s bracket.

The combined scores from those two games at Arnaiz Softball Complex: 15-2.

“We definitely had a fire lit under us today,” Sierra catcher Tayler Moss told The Manteca Bulletin. “I think it was the whole thing of being in Division IV. We felt disrespected. We came in with the mindset that we want to win this whole thing and show that we’re capable of competing in Division III.”

Led by freshman ace Lindsey Walljasper, Sierra will take on No. 3 Lindhurst in Saturday’s semifinal.

TVL teams tied together – A pair of Trans-Valley League baseball teams remain on a collision course for the Division V final.

TVL champion Hughson and runner-up Ripon have clinched semifinal berths on opposite sides of the bracket and will begin their best-of-three series Saturday at Billy Hebert Field.

No. 1 Hughson will be tested by No. 4 Capital Christian, while No. 7 Ripon goes big-game hunting against No. 3 Dixon.

The Indians, drilled in their only two regular-season meetings with Hughson, knocked off No. 2 Summerville on Wednesday, 6-5.

Los Banos baseball stuns top seed – Kevin Spencer’s two-run triple in the sixth inning proved the difference as the Tigers knocked off top seed El Dorado in Division IV.

Brevin Welch overcame eight walks to toss a complete game. No. 8 Los Banos will square off with No. 4 Placer in a best-of-three semifinal beginning Saturday at Tony Zupo Field.

This story was originally published May 15, 2015 at 8:53 PM with the headline "Prep Notebook: Manteca’s Sierra chasing baseball, softball Sac-Joaquin Section titles."