Stat stars: Central Catholic relay team headed to section swim championships

The Sac-Joaquin Section Swim and Dive Championships seemed like an impossible dream at the start of the season for a young and unproven Central Catholic relay team.

Today, that dream has been realized.

Juniors Sarah Truxton and Megan Purl, sophomore Heather Lee and freshman Stephanie Cortes are headed to Tokay High School, the site of the section championships on May 12-14.

The 200-yard freestyle relay team qualified with a time of 1 minute, 51.34 seconds. The section cut in the event is 1:53.00.

Head coach John Hoskins marvels at the rapid development each swimmer has shown in a matter of months. It “borderlines incredible,” Hoskins said. “(They) decided a few weeks ago that just maybe the coach wasn’t that crazy.”

The quartet has shaved more than 40 seconds off their debut swim (2:31.59), including nearly 10 in the past three weeks.

“I just can’t believe it,” said Cortes, who, along with teammates, trains for two hours a day at Brenda Athletic Club. “I need to pinch myself to see if it’s real.”

Baseball

Sam Mundt, Central Catholic: The 6-foot-6 senior ace handed Manteca its first Valley Oak League loss on Tuesday by tossing a two-hitter. The No. 1 large-school Buffaloes had won their first eight games in the VOL, but were no match for Mundt’s Division I arm in a 9-3 loss. Mundt was also 2 for 4 with a double.

Angelo Baciocco, Ripon: The reigning Trans-Valley League Offensive Player of the Year is seeing the ball well for the Indians. The senior catcher was 3 for 4 in a 6-2 win over Hilmar on Tuesday. After going 1 for 12 in games against Escalon and Modesto Christian, Baciocco had hits in five of his last seven at-bats going into Friday’s game.

Alec Beltran, Escalon: The senior infielder was 3 for 3 with a double and three RBIs in a 9-6 victory over Modesto Christian on Tuesday. During a three-game stretch, culminating with Tuesday’s game, Beltran was 7 of 10 with seven RBIs, raising his season average to .400.

Golf

Central Catholic: The Raiders are rounding into postseason form. Nick O’Brien (36), Matt Robinson (37) and Tyler Ward (36) shot below or at par at Manteca Golf Course as the Raiders completed a perfect 14-0 season in the VOL. Central Catholic whipped East Union, 202-190. On Wednesday, Robinson carded a 5-under 32 at Woodbridge Country Club in Lodi during a non-league match with Lodi.

Chris Ebster and Greg Jalli, Gregori: Ebster and Jalli shot matching 36s in a Modesto Metro Conference match with Davis at Creekside Golf Course. The Jaguars cruised to their 11th straight victory, 192-268.

Soccer

Sunny Mancilla and Lizzie Watson, Davis: Mancilla tallied a hat trick and two assists in the Spartans’ offensive explosion against Johansen. Davis’ leading scorer as a freshman, Mancilla contributed to five goals in a 7-2 win. Watson played a role in six, finishing with two goals and a team-high four assists.

Rayana Plancarte, Pitman: The program’s all-time leading scorer continues to set the mark higher and higher. She’s scored three goals this week for the Central California Conference-leading Pride, including two in a 3-0 victory over Buhach Colony. Plancarte will attend Stanislaus State in the fall, where she’ll play for women’s coach Gabriel Bolton.

Waterford defense: Down to its emergency goalie, the Wildcats delivered a shocking performance at Southern League-leading Ripon Christian. Nancy Perez stepped between the pipes and made six saves and defender Emily Ward blocked four shots for Waterford, which earned a 0-0 draw with the Knights on Thursday. Ripon Christian hadn’t been shut out in more than a month.

Softball

Kindra Hackbarth, Oakdale: The speedy leadoff punished Sierra for not starting Lindsey Walljasper, a Division-I caliber ace. Hackbarth went 4 for 5 with four runs and four RBIs as the No. 2 large-school Oakdale rolled up a 20-3 victory on No. 5 large-school Sierra. The reigning Northern California player of the week, as selected by Cal-Hi Sports, Hackbarth homered and tripled in the victory.

Kaytlin Donaldson, Waterford: The senior did it all in a 9-1 victory over Ripon Christian, twirling a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts. What’s more, Donaldson reached base and scored more than the Knights. She was 3 for 4 with three runs scored for the Wildcats, second in the Southern League behind Mariposa. Her specialty, however, is pitching. Donaldson is fourth in the state for strikeouts and second in the Sac-Joaquin Section with 225.

Alexis Dawe, Calaveras: The freshman powered the Redskins’ 13-2 win over Bret Harte earlier this week. Dawe was 2 for 2 with a home run, triple and four RBIs.

Track

Destiny Tolliver, Modesto: Tolliver swept the hurdles events and the 100-meter dash, highlighting the Panthers’ 85-32 victory over Beyer. Tolliver clocked a 16.45 in the 100 high hurdles, a 49.94 in the 300 hurdles and 13-flat in the 100, track and field’s ultimate sprint.

Daniel Ambriz, Merced: The Bears’ middle-distance runner has the seventh-fastest time in the state in the mile. Ambriz set his mark of 4:13.57 at the Halden Invitational last weekend. Ambriz also has the ninth-fastest time in the 800, a 1:53.28 at the Stanford Invitational earlier this month.

This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 2:43 PM with the headline "Stat stars: Central Catholic relay team headed to section swim championships."