Turlock’s Lawless wins PGA Pro match

The Northern California PGA announced Monday that with a final score of even par 72, PGA Professional Marc Lawless of Diablo Grande Golf Club in captured first place at the 2011 NCPGA Pro-Series 3 contested at Catta Verdera Country Club at Twelve Bridges in Lincoln.

An interview with TC graduate Jill Baker, now a pro volleyball player in Switzerland

Jill Baker has traveled a long, productive path since her days playing on the Turlock Christian High volleyball team. During her time as an Eagle, she helped lead the team to Sac-Joaquin Section title appearances. After that, she moved onto Azusa Pacific University, a school located near Los Angeles. She had an incredible career there, culminating in winning the NAIA Volleyball Player of the Year award in 2009. ...

Blaze sweep Nuts with help from THS grad Mendonca

In a span of two days, Turlock High graduate Tommy Mendonca torched the Modesto Nuts before he sizzled down on the third day. Still, his Bakersfield Blaze took care of business.In three games this week against a team he was familiar with growing up, Mendonca - who gained national recognition for leading Fresno State to the 2008 College World Series title - had ...

Rodeo brings cowboys, cowgirls to town

Wrestling steers, riding a bucking bronco and racing around barrels were all common sights on Thursday night in the FoodMaxx Arena as cowboys and cowgirls took the stage for the California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association Rodeo event this year at the Stanislaus County Fair.

Guess who's back? Mendonca set for 3 games vs. Nuts

Former Turlock High and Fresno State standout Tommy Mendonca will make another semi-homecoming to John Thurman Field in Modesto, home of the Modesto Nuts. But these visits appear to be a little more special than the others.

Former Stanislaus golfer finishes U.S. Open as crowd favorite

Cal State Stanislaus and its surrounding areas are about 125 miles away from Pebble Beach. But during a recent four-day stay, Erick Justesen felt like it was 2007 and '08 again, when he was building his golfing legacy at Stanislaus.

Former Stanislaus golfer produces solid back-to-back U.S. Open rounds

Different day, same result. That pretty much sums up Erick Justesen's past two days at Pebble Beach, where the former Cal State Stanislaus golfer is a first-time participant at the prestigious U.S. Open, an event that attracts the best golfers in the world, from legends such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to upcoming stars.

Former Stanislaus golfer to take swing at U.S. Open

Erik Justesen accepts his position in his sport. He's good, no doubt about that, as he's considered one of the best golfers in Cal State Stanislaus history, thanks in part to being one stroke from an NCAA Division II individual championship two years ago. But he knows that he's one of many golfers in this week's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. He hopes to stand out among greats like Tiger Woods, ...

Brandstater to have new life with Colts

Just days after his biggest NFL shakeup, Turlock High and Fresno State standout Tom Brandstater is back on his feet.

Denair grad blossoms into MLB Draft pick

Back when he was at Denair High, Shawn Stuart's favorite place to show off his athleticism wasn't the baseball diamond. Instead, it was the basketball court. That's what his high school baseball coach, Ron Cornell, remembers of the now MLB First-Year Player Draft selection.

Stanislaus pitcher Cendejas joins his hometown Angels

On Wednesday, a bit of magic happened in Eric Cendejas' life. He was visiting Anaheim, his hometown, and later on the day, he was walking around the city's main attraction, Disneyland - the most magical place in the world, according to numerous advertisements.

Former Stanislaus golfer makes U.S. Open cut

Former Cal State Stanislaus men's golfer Erik Justesen earned medalist honors at a sectional qualifier on Monday and has qualified for the USGA U.S. Open Championships at Pebble Beach.

Former Warrior ace named to all-star squad

Marquis Fleming, a former standout and second team All-American pitcher at Cal State Stanislaus, was added to the Florida State League All-Star team on Sunday.

A stable of QBs leads to Broncos releasing THS grad

In a move that didn't come as a complete shock - considering the amount of quarterbacks and experience surrounding him - Turlock High and Fresno State standout Tom Brandstater was let go by the Denver Broncos on Friday, months before his second NFL season.

Pitman grad gets his shot at NFL's Packers

Last summer, when he was volunteering his time at the Westside Ministries Sports Camp in Turlock, then-Fresno State football player Anthony Harding briefly talked about the possibility of playing in the NFL. He didn't say too much, considering he was training for the upcoming college football season and didn't want to look beyond his immediate task.

Lewis Gonzalez signs with WSOF

Lewis Gonzalez has caught his first big break. After compiling an undefeated MMA record of 8-0 in less than two years, the 'Lethal' Turlock native has moved from regional fighter to the big leagues with the recent signing of a six-fight contract with the upstart World Series of Fighting. After defeating Emmanuel Sanchez last month, Gonzalez was approached by a number of fighting leagues including Bellator and the Resurrection Fighting Alliance. For the ...

Blood, sweat and cheers

Turlock baseball legend Brad Lesley dies at 54

Turlock lost an athletic pioneer on Saturday when Brad Lesley died of kidney failure at the age of 54 in Marina Del Rey. Known for his combination of talent and enthusiasm, Lesley made a name for himself both on the baseball mound and in the movies. After graduating from Turlock High, the man known as the "Animal" was drafted out of Merced College by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round. When his ...

Turlock’s Bronil Koochoie continues his climb through the soccer ranks

Twelve years ago when Bronil Koochoie graduated from Turlock High his future was uncertain. His passion was soccer but after three years at the varsity level with the Bulldogs the high cost of tuition made it nearly impossible to continue on to the collegiate level. It was a hard blow for the young man who had played the game since the age of seven but it was reality, and he dealt with it the ...

Sockers handle Express

The Turlock Express marked their second year in the Professional Arena Soccer League with a second straight trip to the Pacific Division Playoffs this past weekend. After a 9-7 regular season, the Express found themselves pitted against PASL stalwarts the San Diego Sockers- owners of 13 arena titles and the record for longest win streak by any professional American sports team-in the first, two leg round of post-season play. Turlock and San Diego ...

After heartbreaker, Kaepernick owns up like a champ

NEW ORLEANS – In a span of three months, Colin Kaepernick rose from a backup to a starting quarterback to a postseason sensation, leading the Forty-Niners to exhilarating wins over such formidable foes as the Patriots, Packers and Falcons. In Super Bowl XVLII, the pride of Turlock drove his team to the brink of an unprecedented comeback win. Then after San Francisco's final drive fell agonizingly short, the Forty-Niner delivered another gutsy performance. "I ...

Super Bowl XLVII: The Day Before

NEW ORLEANS &ndash; Under normal circumstances, this city runs to wild. In the lively French Quarter, street performers, musicians, adult entertainers and free-flowing alcohol entertain tourists from all over the world, round the clock and every day. <p style="color: ...

Express fall in overtime

Four quarters wasn't enough to decide Friday night's matchup between the Turlock Express and Mexico Toros. After battling back and forth, point for point, the two Professional Arena Soccer League clubs carried the match into overtime to the delight of all in attendance at the Turlock Indoor Soccer Complex. But for the second week in a row the Toros managed to stop the Express in their tracks, scoring the winning goal 2:29 into ...

Too much Kap for the Pack to handle

When he was a fourth grader he dreamt of playing professional football for the Niners or the Packers, so it was fitting that Colin Kaepernick's post-season debut as San Francisco's starting quarterback was against Green Bay. Before Saturday's NFC Divisional game nobody, including Kaepernick, knew what to make of the matchup. Was it irony, coincidence, or maybe even fate? Whatever the circumstance one thing was clear-all eyes were on the Turlock native. <p ...

Kaepernick: Forging a future in San Francisco

Colin Kaepernick's status as the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers has been questioned since his breakout performance against the Chicago Bears in Week 11, but after four NFL starts opposition to the second year player has started to soften. San Francisco's loss to division rival St. Louis amplified the media-driven quarterback controversy between Kaepernick and Alex Smith, but to truly gauge the situation in the Bay one only needs to turn ...

Oakland drafts Mendonca

Turlock's own Tommy Mendonca is coming back to California. The former Turlock High and Fresno State standout was acquired by the Oakland Athletics via the Triple-A phase of the Rule-5 draft on Thursday, ending a three year stint where he played 297 minor league games for the Texas Rangers. Mendonca was in Turlock sleeping when he received a surprise phone call from his agent with the unexpected news. "It made my day. ...

Turlock Express surge past Sacramento

The Turlock Express hosted the Sacramento Surge on Saturday in the fourth match of the 2012 Professional Arena Soccer League season. With a dominating first half scoring effort, the Express (2-2) notched their second win with an 8-5 victory over the Surge (0-4). "We really didn't know what they were going to have or show," Turlock's head coach Art Pullido said. "It doesn't matter who we play though, we always try to prepare ...

Native son shines in primetime

Turlock native Colin Kaepernick had a momentous coming out performance against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. In what was dubbed as the backup bowl, San Francisco's second year quarterback seized his primetime opportunity and led a total dismantling of the NFL's second ranked defense, throwing for 243 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 12 yards. Kaepernick's quarterback rating of 97.5 was the highest of any starting debut from a quarterback ...

Kaepernick proves his NFL worth

The life of a backup quarterback in the NFL can be tough. A backup has to go through the daily grind of practice, film review, team meetings, and travel, but rarely gets the chance to enjoy the perk of playing time. If a backup is called upon the situation typically isn't ideal. Poor team performances and losses are one reason a backup quarterback might get the opportunity to play, but more times than not ...

Hougland to compete in first-ever UFC fight in China

Denair-native mixed martial artist Jeff Hougland will fight in China today, as part of the UFC's first ever event to occur in the Far East country. Hougland (10-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will look to defeat Japanese mixed martial artist Takeya Mizugaki (15-7-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) in a bout rescheduled from UFC 151: Jones vs. Henderson. UFC 151 was to occur on Sept. 1 in Las Vegas, but became the first UFC event ever ...