Marin's Ryan tabbed as starter for Twins' opener
The Minnesota Twins have turned to Archie Williams/Drake High School grad Joe Ryan to be their Opening Day starter on April 7 against the Seattle Mariners at Target Field.
“He's absolutely earned the opportunity to go out there in the first game of the season for us, pitch Opening Day,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said on the team's website. “It's still something that is important to everyone in the clubhouse. I know every pitcher may have their own opinions on this particular honor, but I think most guys and most people involved in the game know that it is a special thing.”
The right-hander will be the first rookie to start Opening Day for the Twins since Tom Hall in 1969.
He made a big impression on the Twins during the 26 2/3 innings he pitched last season, with a 4.05 ERA, 30 strikeouts and five walks. Ryan has faced 19 batters this spring, with six strikeouts. Only four batters he faced have reached base, and none have scored.
Prep softball
Lindsay Harrison hit a bases-clearing triple to break open a close game as the Marin Catholic softball team defeated San Rafael 5-1 Thursday.
Harrison came up in the bottom of the fifth inning with the bases loaded and MC (10-2, 5-1 MCAL) already up 1-0. Harrison's triple allowed Gracyn Lovette, Savannah Schreck and Sammy Horn to all come around and score to make it 4-0.
MC's starting pitcher Rose Malen followed with a single to make it 5-0. Malen pitched a complete game and struck out 11 before running into a bit of trouble in the top of the seventh.
San Rafael got on the board when Cassidy Kaplan singled with the bases loaded in the seventh. The Bulldogs left them loaded, flying out to center field with the tying run at the plate.
Harrison had a gamehigh three hits. Lovette had two hits for MC and Horn scored two runs.
Angel Amesa had a pair of hits to lead San Rafael (9-4, 4-3). The Bulldogs had won six consecutive games, dating back to a 1-0 loss in eight innings against MC in the first meeting of the season.
• Georgia Pineda struck out 10 hitters to lead Redwood to a 9-0 victory against Archie Williams Wednesday. Ashley Weingart led the way offensively going 4 for 4 at the plate with a double, two runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Harper Fong, Kaela Sparler and Addy Dunn all had two his for Redwood.
Boys golf
Kyle Martin shot a 1-under-par 35 at Marin Country Club to lead Terra
Linda to a 204-244 win against Novato Thursday. Tino Zucconi paced the Hornets with a 39. Redwood also defeated Novato, 193-244, led by Arjan Arjula and Brady Root, who both shot 35s.
The Trojans picked up a pair of MCAL wins in a three-way match Tuesday, as Terra Linda finished with a 219 to better Tam's 229 and Novato's 257. Tam's Ben Friedman was the low medalist with a 40, while the Trojans' Sean Madden and Martin each came in at 41. Novato's Zucconi finished at 44.
• Branson senior Jack Rende shot an even-par 36 at Peacock Gap as the Bulls (11-1) finished with a 185 to defeat Marin Catholic (205) and San Rafael (313) in a three-way match. The Bulls' Charlie Farrell, Ryan Herbst and Cooper Hoffman each finished at 37, and Aria Saluja shot a 38.
Marin Catholic's Ryan Boyd also shot a 38.
• Marin Academy picked up a 183-208 victory over Stuart Hall at the par-36 Presidio Course in San Francisco. The Wildcats (3-1) were led by Oliver Vilkin's 40, followed by freshman Drayson Jaffee's 46.
Boys tennis
Tam swept San Marin, 7-0, Thursday with only one doubles match going to a third set tiebreaker. Tam's Diego Castillo held off San Marin's Jesse Chi 6-3, 7-5 at No. 2 singles. The Hawks' Tyler Byrne, Asa Moore and Race Sallady also won singles matches.
Boys lacrosse
Acalanes outscored Marin Academy late for a 9-7 victory on Thursday.
Girls lacrosse
Jada Shore scored four goals for Archie Williams, but the Peregrine Falcons could not get past Berkeley in a 12-9 non-league loss on Wednesday.
Boys volleyball
The Hawks' Luke Pielert came up with nine kills, an ace and 15 digs as Tam topped rival Redwood, 2514, 25-17, 21-25, 17-25, 15-10, on Thursday. The Hawks were led by Lourenco Pereira, who had 21 assists, 12 digs, three kills, a block and an ace, and Will Hatch, who had 10 kills, seven blocks and a dig.
• San Rafael took the last two games as the Bulldogs defeated Roseland Prep, 25-22, 1925, 2521, 25-10. O'Marion Beard, Lucas Tsingaris and Nicholas Lam all had big games for the Bulldogs.
College commitments
A pair of San Rafael High School athletes announced their college plans on Twitter this week. Juan Bonilla will head to Holy Names University to play soccer. Meanwhile, multisport athlete Jack Healy has decided to play football at St. Francis Xavier University.