Modesto Sports

There has never been a more dominant baseball program in the Sac-Joaquin Section than the powerhouse that Mike Glines has built at Central Catholic High.

In between the grunting and pushing, the pulling and throwing of iron, a foundation was poured. With his star pupil in the middle of a workout, Livingston throws coach Bob Pryor allowed his mind to wander.

When the ball rolled out of Jazmine Pedrotti's glove, denying her an acrobatic catch in the bottom of the seventh inning, Johansen High was concerned that this one might still get away.

Mark de la Motte waited until the end of Tuesday's practice to tell freshman Nick Voumard he would be the starting pitcher in Wednesday's playoff game against Beyer.

It's back to the Sac-Joaquin Section title game for Oakdale High's baseball team, which is shooting for its third Division 4 championship in four years.

Baseball

At just 15 years old and standing 5 feet, 9 inches, there's a catcher out there who conducts a game with such style that you could call his mitt his baton.

Johansen High's Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoff game today has been moved to Arnaiz Stadium in north Stockton, due to wet conditions at the Sacramento Softball Complex.

Beneath Hughes Stadium, huddled below a stairwell, a fraction of the Atwater track team filled the air with laughter, playfully poking fun at each other.

Sac-Joaquin Section Commissioner Pete Saco put the playoffs on hold Tuesday, the result of an afternoon storm that dropped rain as it passed over the San Joaquin Valley.

It's been 16 years since the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I softball champion played its ball south of Elk Grove. That was also the last time a Modesto team made the final. Winning a title remains an unrealistic dream for most of the city's schools, but Johansen has separated itself from that group this past week.

League representatives are being asked to send their all-league teams as soon as possible to restrada@modbee.com so we can publish the teams.

One baseball team's season ends tonight, but the other gets a second shot at potent St. Mary's in the Sac-Joaquin Section regional final.

Baseball

Johansen High softball coach Debbie Guenther said she had never seen a comeback quite like it. The Vikings were losing by three and hitless going into the bottom of the seventh inning, but there they were celebrating just minutes later.

Beyer High pitcher Trey Ridenour overwhelmed batters much of this season, sending most on a quiet walk back to the dugout. That didn't seem to impress St. Mary's, as the Rams rifled shots into the gap most of the night for an 11-1 victory in the winners' bracket final of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 playoffs.