Prospects good for Pioneer baseball

Pioneer will be a baseball team to watch this spring, thanks to three outstanding juniors who have announced verbal college commitments – two to Pacific-12 Conference schools.

Pitcher Zack Aukes, a USA Baseball junior national team player, has selected Oregon; pitcher-first baseman Robert Daugherty plans to play for Washington; and outfielder Marcus Vidales says he will sign with Cal State Fullerton.

"A coach is lucky to get one D-I guy, let alone three," Pioneer coach Craig Marquez said. "They're part of a real talented group that's been playing together for a long time. They and their families have done a real good job of getting their names out at the showcases."

The players were key contributors as sophomores last season for a Pioneer team that went 18-8 and finished 12-3 in the Tri-County Conference, two games behind Yuba City, which has won five consecutive league championships.

Aukes went 4-2 with a 2.16 ERA. He struck out 53 in 35 2/3 innings.

Daugherty batted .412, stole 15 bases and was 3-1 with a 2.28 ERA. He struck out 65 batters in 40 innings.

Vidales batted .295 and had 14 RBIs.

"We're all excited to get the season rolling," Marquez said. "It will be a fun year."

Former Davis star to coach girls soccer

Former Davis High standout Sara Stone has been named the girls soccer coach at her alma mater.

Stone, known as Sara Yudin in her high school and college playing days, replaces Allen Carlson, who retired in the fall after 14 seasons and four Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championships.

Stone is the daughter of Blue Devils boys coach Ashley Yudin, who has agreed to be her assistant.

Stone was a two-time Delta League MVP and helped lead the Blue Devils to a three-year record of 54-7-5.

She played at Fresno State as a member of the school's first women's soccer team in 1995. She also was an assistant coach at Long Beach State.

Stone inherits a Blue Devils team that returns many players from last spring's Division I championship team that finished 24-1-1.

Nine area wrestlers medal in Clovis

Nine area wrestlers medaled at the prestigious Doc Buchanan Wrestling Invitational in Clovis on Saturday.

Folsom's Connor Pollock finished second at 126 pounds, losing by pin to Anthony Valencia of St. John Bosco of Bellflower in their championship match.

Bella Vista's Shayne Tucker (138), Oak Ridge's Keaton Subjeck (160), Center's Khymba Johnson (195) and Foothill's Mike Lowman (285) all won third-place medals.

Elk Grove's Martin Ramirez (132) placed fourth and teammate Josh Letuligasenoa (220) sixth. Folsom's Lorenzo De La Riva (120) and Ponderosa's Nick Traquato (170) placed seventh.

– Bill Paterson

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