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Alvarez, Camara, Reyes, Slikker selected to All-VOL baseball first team
All-VOL baseball
Manteca’s Nate Slikker offers the pitch in a Valley Oak League game at East Union. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO/The Bulletin

Two-way sophomore standouts Nate Slikker and Joe Alvarez have been selected to the All-Valley Oak League baseball first team for a second time.

Slikker repeats after helping Manteca (12-6, 21-8 overall) place third in the stacked VOL, which had six of its seven members qualify for the postseason. The Buffaloes finished a game back of co-champions Central Catholic (13-5, 23-12) and Oakdale (13-5, 21-11) and made it to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III quarterfinals in back-to-back years.

Alvarez is joined by East Union teammate Brayden Camara on the all-league first team.

All-VOL baseball
East Union first baseman Joe Alvarez heads to the bag for a force out after cleanly fielding a groundball against rival Manteca.
They led the Lancers (8-10, 15-5) to fifth place in the VOL and a second-round playoff game in Division IV.

Junior shortstop Ryan Reyes made the all-league first team for Sierra (5-13, 9-18), which upset Central Catholic in its regular-season finale before stunning Placer on the road 8-0 in the first round of the SJS Division IV playoffs.

The league MVP award went to Oakdale pitcher/corner infielder Landon Schutte. The Georgia-committed junior was named Pitcher of the Year in 2024. Max Medina of Patterson (10-8, 18-11), committed to Georgia, now reigns as Pitcher of the Year.

Central Catholic’s Kayden McHenry and Oakdale’s Griffin Costa are Co-Offensive Players of the Year. Central Catholic’s Danny Ayala and Oakdale’s Joey Machado are the Coaches of the Year.

Slikker appeared in all 18 of Manteca’s league games, anchoring the infield at shortstop while hitting for a team-best .357 average. His 15 hits, 19 runs, two triples, seven steals, 16 walks and .554 on-base percentage also led the Buffaloes in league play. He also drove in 12 runs.

From the mound, Slikker was 2-3 in league with a 2.44 ERA, two saves and 44 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings.  

All-VOL baseball
East Union’s Brayden Camara follows through after making contact in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoff opener against Vanden.
Alvarez made seven pitching appearances in league for EU, finishing 3-0 with a 3.93 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings. He hit .321, knocking in 12 runs.

Third baseman Camara paced East Union with a .517 slugging percentage with three doubles, two triples and two homers. He hit for a .293 average and 15 RBIs and stole 11 bases.

All-VOL baseball
Sierra shortstop Ryan Reyes throws to first for an out in a Valley Oak League game at East Union. - photo by SEAN KAHLER
Reyes spearheaded Sierra with a .333 league batting average with 19 hits and eight steals.

Manteca, East Union and Sierra each have two players on the All-VOL second team.

Senior outfielder Eddie Anthony (.245, seven steals, 16 runs) and junior utility infielder Cameron Jimenez (.293, 11 runs, 14 RBIs) represent Manteca. Senior shortstop Blake Mount (.208, 12 RBIs) and junior center fielder Jackson Fay (.371, 17 runs, 16 steals) got the nod for East Union. Representing Sierra are senior pitcher Wyatt Bauer (0-3, 3.31, 34 strikeouts) and senior catcher Rudy Barney (.327, 12 RBIs).

Senior outfielder Chris Chavez, sophomore pitcher Jeremy Cross and sophomore pitcher Jimmy Burns received honorable mention for Manteca. East Union senior Randy Martinez also made honorable mention.