Local Roundup: Merced College women open playoffs with dominant win
The Merced College women’s basketball team opened up the Northern California Regional playoffs with a convincing 82-50 victory over Folsom Lake on Friday night on Don Reid Court at Merced College.
Sophomore Jada Johnson led the Lady Blue Devils (24-5) with 22 points and nine rebounds. Malaya Kendrick added 10 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and three steals. Jaydon Williams finished with 11 points and five steals.
Merced College scored 55 points in the first half to build a 26-point lead by intermission.
The Lady Blue Devils racked up 25 assists on 36 made baskets.
Shaymany Suarez (14 points) and Hailey Chavez (11 points) both contributed double-figure scoring off the bench for Merced College.
No. 5 seed Merced College will face the winner of the Fresno City-Chabot game on Saturday, March 7.
High School Baseball
Buhach Colony 6, Modesto 0 in Modesto — Kadon Floro pitched five scoreless innings and Margarito Corona homered and drove in four runs as the Thunder opened the season with a win.
Floro struck out seven and surrendered just one hit.
Merced 6, Summerville 5 in Toulumne — The Bears scored four runs in the sixth inning to win in Todd Buchner’s return as Merced’s baseball coach.
Luke Souza had three hits to lead the Bears offense. Austin Lajarde added two hits and two RBIs.
El Capitan 8, Weston Ranch 6 in Merced — Chase Minor hit three triples, scored three runs and drove in two as the Gauchos came back from an early 6-2 deficit to win at home.
Junior Kiran Valdez knocked in three runs for the Gauchos and Dylan Webber threw five innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win.
Atwater 7, Manteca 6 in Atwater — A four-run fifth inning proved to be the difference as the Falcons won their season opener at Memorial Ballpark. Nathaniel Silva picked up the win and collected two hits on offense.
East Union 15, Golden Valley 2 in Manteca — Carlos Alvarez had three hits and two RBIs to lead the Lancers past the Cougars.
Hilmar 12, Wateford 0 in Hilmar — Fresno State-bound right-hander Treven Crowley struck out 15 batters and gave up one hit in just five innings.
Softball
Golden Valley 13, Turlock 0 in Turlock — Maddy Stokes pitched a shutout and the Cougars’ offense was led by Vanessa Saltos’ three hits and Naomi Moore’s three RBIs.
Manteca 11, Pacheco 4 in Los Banos — Freshman Daizy Vasquez had two hits and three RBIS in her varsity debut for the Panthers.
Kaileah Johnson doubled twice and drove in two runs for the Buffaloes.
Swimming
Merced sweeps Livingston
The Merced boys and girls swim teams earned victories over the Wolves on Friday.
Leading the way for the Bears girls were Sophia Hart (200-yard individual medley, 100 butterfly), Emily Trejo (200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke) and Sydney Hinman (50 freestyle, 500 freestyle).
Leading the way for the Merced boys were David Chen (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle), Harley Hermosillo (200 individual medley, 100 butterfly), Daniel Martin (100 freestyle, 100 backstroke) and Vincent Arroyo (50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke).
This story was originally published February 29, 2020 at 11:32 AM.
