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BUFFALOES BASH KIMBALL
Deerinck starts VOL opener with towering homer
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Thanks to Tawny Deerinck, the science wing at Manteca High may need a new skylight.
Deerinck launched one over the center-field fence on top of the science wing Friday for a three-run home run in the first inning on the way to a 7-0 Valley Oak League win for the Buffaloes over visiting Kimball. 
Deerinck finished 3 for 4 with a home run, double, four RBI and three runs.
“I was just seeing the ball well,” Deerinck said. “The girls in front of me were doing their job and I was trying not to have selfish at-bats – just hit them in and do my job.
“I got moved up to No. 3 batter today from No. 4 and I felt really comfortable there.”
Haighley Kissee went the distance in the circle for Manteca (1-0 VOL, 9-3 overall), striking out eight and allowing just two hits.
“That’s Haighley all season for us,” Manteca coach Josh Farris said. “She’s a bulldog competitor. I may keep repeating myself, but we all feed off of her.”
Kissee had only two balls make it out of the infield and just three Jaguars reached base.
“I like to get after it hard right off the bat,” Kissee said. “But it’s easier to pitch when we are scoring the runs so I feel a little more comfortable.
“I’m confident to let the other team hit because I know that my defense is going to back me up. It’s easy to be confident when I know the team is behind me.”
Rhiannon Genilla reached base in her four at-bats for the Buffaloes, going 2 for 2 with an RBI, a walk and she was hit by a pitch.
“Coach Ferris always says put the person behind you in the lineup in the same situation you’re in,” Genilla said. “My goal is to keep trying to set them up.”
Manteca’s Kaylee MacDannald led the bottom of the first with a single and Kissee came up next when she was hit by a pitch. Deerinck then had her three-run blast for a 3-0 Buffaloes lead.
In the second inning, Deerinck singled in Kissee and Koryn Menasco singled in Deerinck for a 5-0 lead. Deerinck doubled in the fourth and came in when Menasco reached second on a misplayed fly ball to center. Genilla singled in Menasco for the last run of the game. 
Farris was pleased with his team’s focus.
“We’ll take this one, for sure,” Farris said. “To do the things we want to do that’s a team we have to beat and I thought the girls came focused and ready to play.”
Kimball drops to 0-1, 1-6.
 
Sophomore
Manteca 6, Kimball 3
The Buffaloes used a five-run fifth to open the VOL campaign with a win.
Alannah Harnden, Mikyla Lopez and Alyssah Harnden all had RBI singles and scored a run in the pivotal fifth inning. 
Alyssah Harnden pitched a complete game for the Manteca and struck out 11. Kylee Eberle, Adriana Churich and Ella Washburn also singled and scored for the Buffaloes.