Local Report: Vanden boys see SCAC tennis win streak snapped

VALLEJO — With a young team and in a bit of a rebuilding year, the Vanden High boys tennis team knew its streak of 70 straight Solano County Athletic Conference victories had to come to an end at some point.

That point came Tuesday when the Vikings fell 9-0 to host Bethel.

“They were just a better team than us,” said Vanden coach Stan Lewis. “The streak was bound to end at some point. . . . Seventy straight matches, that’s more than 4 1/2 years without losing.”

The Vikings (1-1, 1-1 SCAC) nearly avoided the sweep a couple of times.

At No. 6 singles, Vanden’s Erone Cao pushed Bethel’s Marc Concha to three sets, falling 6-7 (4) 6-3, 6-3.

Playing well past sunset, Vanden’s Reis Vince Cruz and Leonard Hsiung forced a third set against James Lin and Justin Booth, finally falling 4-6, 6-2, 16-14.

“We’re going to have to learn how to compete again, how to fight,” Lewis said, adding that his team needs to learn to put the good moments together. “We definitely need to get mentally tougher.”

Vanden hosts Pioneer today and returns to SCAC play Thursday at Fairfield.

Prep softball

Mustangs’ rally falls short on road

ELK GROVE — Trailing 4-0 heading into the seventh inning, the Rodriguez High softball team nearly pulled off the comeback, scoring three runs before falling 4-3 to host Cosumnes Oaks.

Melissa Eisen (2 for 3, double, RBI) and Alaena Seldon (two RBIs) combined to drive in all of the Mustangs’ runs in that rally.

Amie Perkins also added two hits and a double.

Four errors also helped undo Rodriguez early.

Rodriguez (1-2) is at American Canyon on Thursday.

In junior varsity action, things went very differently for the Mustangs (3-0) as they routed the Wolfpack 13-1 in a game shortened by the 10-run rule.

Caitlin Parish had a day, going the distance in the circle, fanning two batters and allowing just three hits.

She also ripped a pair of doubles and drove in four runs.

Lauren Riddle went 3 for 4 with a double and a third-inning solo home run with two RBIs.

Desiree Dominguez had two hits and drove in a run, while Brianna Smullen doubled.

Emma Vogliano had a double and a triple.

Mackenzie Alspaw collected three hits with two RBIs, including a solo home in the fourth.

Prep girls soccer

Mustangs blank Indians in MEL opener

FAIRFIELD — After a rough preseason run, the Rodriguez High girls soccer team found its footing Tuesday and shut out visiting Napa 3-0 to open Monticello Empire League play.

In the first half, Nikki Castro put the Mustangs (2-3-1, 1-0 MEL) up 1-0 with an assist from Jamie Petty, who took a free kick outside the box on the right side to set up Castro’s one-timer into the net.

It remained 1-0 at intermission, before Castro struck again in the 43rd minute, this time of a cross from Bella Perez.

In the 77th minute Harmonie Carranza scored with an assist from Alex Johnson.

Goalkeeper Sarah Free had four saves in the shutout.

Rodriguez returns to action Thursday when it hosts Vintage.

Despite great defense, and a limited amount of shots on goal, the Mustangs’ junior varsity team fell to Napa 2-1.

Napa struck first, but Rodriguez’s Ariana Sanchez retaliated in the 29th minute on an assist from Paola Ibarra, tying the game.

The score remained tied until the 76th minute, when Napa netted the game-winning goal.

“Everybody played great, but it was just one of those games where you dominate but don’t win,” said coach Dale Daniel.

The Mustangs defense only allowed three shots on goal, but two of those shots found the net.

Rodriguez will play Vintage Thursday. JV will start at 4p.m. and Varsity will play at 6p.m.

Armijo 3, Vacaville 1: At Vacaville, the Indians rolled to a road win in their MEL opener.

Vacaville scored first, netting a goal in the 20th minute of the game.

Armijo’s Monique Evans scored at the end of the first half on an assist from Lauryn Williams making the score 1-1 at halftime.

The Indians (6-2, 1-0 MEL) wasted no time after the break, scoring 2 minutes into the second half, on a goal by Williams, assisted by goalkeeper, Anna Castro.

Castro punted the ball past the Bulldogs’ defense, and Williams was able to track it down and put it in the net.

The final goal for the Indians came in the 72nd minute. Dulce Armas took advantage of a corner kick from Evans to ice the win.

“Our league is tough. All six teams are good so any win is a good one,” said Armijo coach Brad Burzynski.

Armijo plays again, Thursday, when it travels to Wood for a 3:30 p.m. match.

Vanden JV 7, Vallejo 0: At Fairfield, Vanden was able to shut out Vallejo with hustle plays and stingy defense. Brittany Jones, Kennedy Haugen and Denise Hall worked as a defensive unit to keep the Aaches off the scoresheet.

“The girls have been really working hard, and we’re starting to see a lot of good connecting passes,” said Vikings coach Dave Richards.

Katie Poole was the most generous of the bunch, dishing out three assists, and she also scored two goals. Poole’s first two assists both went to Hara Shabaz, one in the 10th minute of the game and the second right before halftime. Her last assist went to Sarah Elliot, for the seventh and final goal of the game. Elliot’s first goal was unassisted, and came from on a direct kick in the 20th minute of the game. Elisa Anguiano also contributed a goal for the Vikings.

Vanden will travel to Benicia Thursday, where they will face the Panthers at 5:15 p.m.

JC baseball

SCC routs Contra Costa at home

ROCKVILLE — A 15-hit barrage was the key for the Solano Community College baseball team as the Falcons blasted visiting Contra Costa Tuesday in Bay VAlley Conference play at Billy and Louise Yarbrough stadium.

Alex Crosby led the way for Solano (18-5) with a double, a tripe and four RBIs. Nick Spini drove in three runs, while Justin Quilatan added his own double and triple with two driven in.

Zach Welz had two hits with a double and an RBI, Tucker Bishop added three hits with a double and two RBIs.

David Fernandez, Jordan Tolbert and Giovanni Torres each had a pair of hits.

Nick Driscoll went five innings for the victory, striking our six comets batters and closer Mike Duman fanned a pair in the ninth.

Prep badminton

Mustangs bounce Bulldogs, stay perfect

FAIRFIELD— The Rodriguez High badminton team remains undefeated after beating Vacaville 14-1, Monday.

Raiza Balanico and Ashley Esteban not only won their individual matches, and they also teamed up to win their doubles match.

Anisa Cervantes and Candace Fernandez also earned two wins during the Mustangs’ victory Monday, winning in both singles and doubles.

Sheriden Lucero, Kimberly Gatchalian, and Emerald Ramos also earned doubles and singles victories.