Mendonca supported by fans, no matter the uniform

Don't mess with Tommy Mendonca, especially when he's in front of familiar faces. The challenger will get a tongue-lashing like no other.

Modesto opens 2010 season with a win

MODESTO - As the majority of the 4,427 fans made their way out of John Thurman Field on Thursday night, the sky was lit up with fireworks. It was a rainbow of colors and people watched in awe, mouths opened. This display was, yes, icing on the cake.

PASL Cougars to play in Turlock

The California Cougars of the Professional Arena Soccer League will play at Turlock Indoor Soccer on Sunday, as the Cougars out of Stockton face the Denver Dynamite. The match begins at 4 p.m.

Mendonca’s first pro season ends

Tommy Mendonca ended his first professional baseball season with big numbers, perhaps enough to exceed the expectations of a second-round selection in the 2009 MLB Draft.

Kwasniewski unstoppable at Stockton

Escalon's Eric Holmes made a valiant dash for the front in the late going of Saturday's Pick-N-Pull 150 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Stockton 99 Speedway, but was ultimately forced to settle for a hard earned second place finish behind young gun Dylan Kwasniewski.

Former Pride standout helps Visalia rout Modesto

It was a homecoming of sorts on Monday night for former Pitman High standout baseball player Bradin Hagens. Hagens, a current member of the Visalia Rawhide, was back in the Valley to face the Modesto Nuts. "It's nice to have my family come out and watch. It's almost like I'm not in season right now because I get to see them so much," Hagens said. "It's comforting and makes me want to play ...

Oakdale Saddle Club showcases best in the West

With some of the toughest rodeo animals in the West - and cowboys of the same caliber - the 61st annual Oakdale Rodeo promises competition, thrills, and a showcase for some of the top rodeo riders.

Local angler looks to reel in the big bucks at Bassmaster Classic

Ish Monroe has been fishing practically his entire life. As the Hughsonite grew up, joined the workforce and enrolled in college he would still turn to his favorite passtime to relax. The simple act of throwing a line in the water from his boat was enough to make him happy. When Monroe became disillusioned with his career and education pathway it was fishing that set him free. "I was going to school ...

Turlock Express: Indoor soccer at the professional level

Soccer fans rejoice; Turlock is now home to its first professional sports team, the Turlock Express. In their first year at the professional level the Express (6-3) are in second place of the Professional Arena Soccer League's Western Division and undefeated at home. Turlock will try and extend their perfect record at home Friday when they host the Tijuana Revolucion at the Turlock Indoor Soccer facility. "They shelved the California Cougars that was ...

Turlock’s Brandstater ready to make debut on Monday Night Football

Since he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos, Turlock's Tom Brandstater has had a career of uncertainty. Less than a year after signing a four-year contract, Brandstater was waived by the Broncos when they drafted Tim Tebow and acquired Brady Quinn from the Cleveland Browns in the 2010 season. Since then the 6-foot-5 Brandstater has been signed to the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Dallas ...

Turlock’s Lethal Lewis Gonzalez still undefeated

Lethal Lewis Gonzalez: Fighting for a future

In a small town like Turlock, that rarely garners national attention and where time moves at a steady pace, people are quick to claim any source of pride they can find. Recently, the ascension of Tom Brandstater, Colin Kaepernick and Tom Mendonca to the professional level of their respective sports has become the main source of pride for many Turlockers. Though some may not know it, there is another hometown athlete who has ...

Denair-raised UFC fighter bows out of Saturday event

Jeff "Hellbound" Hougland announced Tuesday he will not fight in Saturday's UFC Live 6 due to torn tendons in his hand. The mixed martial artist will undergo surgery for the injury, sustained during training, next Tuesday. Hougland (10-4-0, 1-0-0 UFC), a bantamweight, was scheduled to face highly touted prospect Mike Easton (10-1-0) on the event's undercard. Hougland will be replaced by UFC newcomer Byron Bloodworth (6-1-0). Hougland, a Denair native and Denair ...

Despite bad night, Pitman grad Colin Kaepernick shaping to become the next San Francisco 49ers QB —

SAN FRANCISCO - Colin Kaepernick had to stop getting dressed. He was already in a pair of jeans, a T-shirt and a gray hat representing the San Francisco 49ers. He was looking for his shoes. But that task had to be put on hold, as about dozen members of the media wanted a piece of him. Despite living the dream, this was not a good night to be Colin Kaepernick or any other ...

Former Warrior earns minor pitcher of the year honors

Former Cal State Stanislaus standout pitcher Andrew Stueve had an eventful weekend as he nears the end of his first professional season. On Saturday, he was named the Pitcher of the Year for the Arizona Rookie League Royals after he appeared in 22 games and threw 43 innings to earn a 2.09 ERA while striking out 40 batters and collecting six saves. Later on Saturday, he learned that he got promoted to the Wilmington ...

Road from Denair to UFC long for local fighter

The trip from Denair to Las Vegas isn't an arduous one, for most. It's just eight hours of leisurely, albeit monotonous, highway driving.

Brandstater joins Cowboys

Since his selection in the 2009 NFL Draft, Tom Brandstater has put on various team uniforms.

Turlock High graduate enjoys baseball, life in Taiwan

Whenever Dan Reichert has a meeting with his coaches on the mound, it looks like a game of telephone.

Through midseason slump and friends’ deaths, Mendonca is recovering

Tommy Mendonca has only been in the Minor League Baseball system for two years now, but he's considered to be on the fast track. After he got drafted by the Texas Rangers in the second round of the First-Year Player Draft in 2009, he began his pro career in Spokane, Wash. He then got promoted to the Bakersfield Blaze that same year, even playing against the California League's North Division ...