Some squads are wrapping up preseason matches while others are already in to their Trans-Valley League schedule, as action continues in spring sports at Escalon High School.
Following is a recap for some recent competition; EHS spring teams include baseball, softball, boys volleyball, track and field, tennis and boys golf.
BASEBALL
The varsity baseball Cougars got their Trans-Valley League campaign off to a good start, as they swept a pair of contests from Sonora.
On the road for the TVL opener on Wednesday, March 11, the varsity team took a 9-1 win over the host Wildcats.
“Zach Wells threw a complete game,” said head coach Gino Franceschetti. “He went seven innings, with 10 strikeouts, no base on balls and no earned runs.:
Offensively, Wyatt Riesenbeck was 3-for-3 with a double and a run batted in.
Friday, the squad was on the home field and Brody Abbott got the win, going the distance and throwing a no-hitter against the visiting Sonora team in a 9-0 Cougar shutout victory.
He had 11 strikeouts and just one base on balls, accounting for the only Sonora baserunner of the day.
“We only had seven hits but they did walk a lot of our hitters and they did commit a lot of efforts so we were able to capitalize on those,” Franceschetti said of defeating the Wildcats. “Lorenzo Teixeira had two hits with an RBI.”
Also for the week, Alex Girardi collected a couple of hits and Franceschetti said Wells also hit the ball well.
The team is scheduled to host Hilmar on March 18 and travel to Hilmar on March 20.
At the JV level, the boys also got two wins in TVL play as they defeated Sonora on the road by a 15-3 final and came back home Friday to win by a 10-1 decision.
The JV team is now 5-2 overall.
SOFTBALL
Opening up Trans-Valley League play on the road, the varsity softball girls lost to Hughson on March 11 by a 9-3 final. Preseason action started with a win over Bret Harte but then the team took several losses in a row and are looking to get on a winning streak now that league play is underway.
They were scheduled to host Ripon Christian on March 17 and travel to Ripon on March 19 before hosting Orestimba on March 24.
The JV girls also lost their league opener to Hughson, falling by a 13-5 decision.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
It has been a tough start to the season for the Cougar boys on the volleyball court, but they did get a win during play this past week.
Head coach Alyssa Cogburn – who is leading both the varsity and JV teams this season – said they had losses to Ripon and River Islands, but beat Orestimba in four.
“The boys fought hard all week and were doing some really great things against Orestimba and River Islands,” Cogburn said.
She served as head JV coach last season and this year has taken over that leadership role for both squads.
“I’m very proud of their play this week,” she said.
TRACK AND FIELD
On Saturday, March 14, the Escalon Cougars Track and Field team competed in its first official meet of the season and had “fantastic success,” said head coach Arend Jones.
The Lauren DK Pettis Invitational was held at A.A. Stagg High School with about 10 other schools. Both the frosh/soph boys and girls teams from Escalon placed first overall. while The girls varsity team placed second and the boys varsity team placed third.
Here are some of the top finishes for the Cougars, listed by grade level.
Seniors – Varsity
Gloria Segura placed first in shot put and discus; Marissa Terry placed second in discus, third in shot put. Theodore Harp placed second in pole vault, third in 3200 meter run; Co Northcutt placed second in the 400 meter dash.
Juniors – Varsity
Brynn Caton placed third in long jump; Leigh Garside placed third in the 1600 meter run, Jaslene Rodriguez placed first in the 3200 meter run. Jaecy Aldasoro placed first in discus, second in shot put.
Sophomores – Varsity
Mateo Estrada placed second in the 3200 meter run.
Sophomores – JV
Ronni Keo placed first in high jump, third in triple jump; Katelynn Craig placed third in pole vault; Milea Krieger placed second in pole vault; Georgia Northcutt placed first in pole vault, 400 and 800 meter runs; Karyna Dalpogetti placed first in discus, second in shot put; Jenna Augusto placed third in shot put; Ava Rodriguez placed first in 100 and 300 meter hurdles; Vivienne Harp placed second in the 1600 meter run. Rigoberto Ramirez placed second in pole vault and 800 meter run, third in the 1600 meter run; Ian Trejo placed first in high jump, 300 meter hurdles and 100 meter sprint; Cash Quadro placed second in discus; Ethan Young placed first in the 3200 meter run; Fidel Segura placed first in the 400 meter dash.
Freshmen – JV
Sandra Rowe placed first in triple jump, Madlin Teixeira placed second in high jump; Sofia Casillas placed second in discus; Sofia Lozano placed first in 3200 meter run, second in the 800 meter run; Maci Woodruff placed third in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs; Monique Coelho placed third in 800 meter run. Jacob Corrales placed third in the 3200 meter run; Easton Beneux placed second in the 3200 meter run; Alden Shultz placed third in the 800 meter run.
On March 18, the track and field team was scheduled to be at Sonora High School for the TVL Relays and on Friday, March 20, the team’s distance runners will be at Dublin High School for the Distance Fiesta meet.
TENNIS
In a busy couple of weeks, the co-ed tennis team was on the court for four matches for the Cougars.
Head coach Julianne Eavenson said they started out with a scrimmage against Lindhurst and then defeated Bret Harte by a 6-3 decision on March 5. Two matches this past week were victories as well, a 6-3 decision over River Islands on March 11 and a 6-3 decision over Orestimba on March 13.
Trans-Valley League action this week includes a match at Hughson and one at Ripon.
“Our first home match of the season is next Monday, March 23,” Eavenson said.
BOYS GOLF
The JV boys were winners over Hilmar, 201-225, in recent action at the Escalon Golf Course and they are now 2-1 on the season, said golf coach Brandon Hoover.
Daniel Nixon carded a 37, followed by Ethan Tellez at 39. Jacob Betancourt had a 41 on the day, and carding 42’s were George Harding and Drake Gillihan, with Dominic Wheat coming in at 43.
For the varsity team, they finished sixth out of seven teams taking part in a league tournament at River Oaks in Ceres. Brenden Berchtold finished 12th out of the 44 golfers. Ripon took first as a team, followed by Ripon Chrisitan, Hughson, Sonora, Hilmar, and Escalon in sixth.
Berchtold shot a 71 at the River Oaks course with Donovan Martinez carding an 82. Leo Serrano shot an 86, Joey Calcagno was at 88, Daniel Nixon at 96 and Luke Gutierrez shot a 103.
Editor Marg Jackson contributed to this report.
