If you’ve been reading my stories and viewing my photos on Orestimba and Gustine athletic teams for the last two years in the Westside Connect, I would like to say thank you.
If you just started reading my stories in the Westside Connect via its website - www.westsideconnect.com - or the Wednesday print edition, I fully appreciate it and hope you’ll continue reading my stories. If you’ve just started reading my stories and/or this column, thank you and tell your family, friends, co-workers and others you know to start reading my content.
Here is what I will share with you. I am a multimedia journalist who was born and raised in Stanislaus and Merced counties. See my tag at the end of my first-ever column in the Westside Connect to follow me on X/Twitter and Instagram. If you want to send me a direct message, follow me on one or both of those social media outlets.
Now, let’s talk about sports. I’ll start off this column with some tidbits.
*You’ll see on the Westside Connect’s website and/or the Wednesday print edition about the Orestimba and Gustine high school football teams beginning Trans-Valley League and Southern Athletic League action this Friday.
*Have you been tracking the Orestimba High School girls flag football team?
If not, here’s the basics.
Orestimba is 12-1 overall, entering Tuesday’s TVL opener at Hughson. Hilmar (10-2) and Hughson (8-4) are close by entering league play.
This season appears to be shaping up to have another good run among the Warriors, Yellowjackets and Huskies. Orestimba won the 2025 TVL title with a 10-0 record, Hilmar second place at 7-3 and Hughson fourth at 4-6.
*Here is a fun fact regarding flag football, which the California Interscholastic Federation sanctioned in early 2023.
According to CIF State, there were 24,979 girls who played the sport during the 2025-26 school year. That’s a 25.4 percent jump from the 2024-25 school year, where there were 19,921. In the inaugural season in 2023, there were 10,832.
The CIF should have the total numbers of flag football participants for this season in early August 2027.
*If you’re a San Francisco Giants or Athletics fan, this week could be a tough one for you. That is because the regular season ends this weekend, and neither are going to be in the playoffs.
The Giants will host the Minnesota Twins from the American League and National League West Division rival Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park entering this week and weekend.
The A’s, who are currently calling Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento in Yolo County home from 2025 through 2027 before scheduled to move to Las Vegas at the start of the 2028 season, host American League West Division rival Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then the A’s have a four-game series finale against the Houston Astros beginning Thursday through Sunday.
Mike Bush is a multimedia journalist who was born and raised in the Stanislaus and Merced County areas. Follow him on X/Twitter @MikeBMultimedia and Instagram @mikebushmedia.
