MODESTO — The late-winter showers didn’t seem to faze Manteca High’s baseball team in its season opener in the Johansen Tournament Thursday.
Led by a strong pitching effort from senior Matt Barber, the Buffaloes made easy work of Atwater, 10-0, in six innings.
“I was concerned about how we’d do because we had a couple scrimmages canceled and we haven’t gotten much practice time on the field,” Manteca coach Gene Ballardo said. “But I’m happy with what I see.
“We’ll get a tougher test tomorrow against Tokay. We’ll see what our true colors are then.”
Barber was given all the run support he needed in the first inning when Manteca opened up a 2-0 lead. His economical outing consisted of just 62 pitches (46 strikes), three strikeouts, no walks and six hits in six innings.
“We’ve been inside a gym the last couple of days and didn’t have much time with bullpen sessions, but Matt still pitched really well,” Barber said.
Trey Roberts was Manteca’s most productive hitter, going 4 for 4 with two runs, two RBIs and two doubles from the No. 9 spot.
Gabe Rellamas (two RBIs) and Michael Timmins (2B, 3B, RBI) were each 2 for 3. Sophomore Daniel Miramontes went 2 for 2 with a double.
Manteca squares off with Tokay of Lodi at 3 p.m. today.
Thursday’s game was called during the top of the seventh, when EU tacked on four more runs that did not count, because of darkness.
“It was just nice to get a game in,” EU coach Dan Triglia joked.
Modesto went four innings and struck out two for the win. Riley fanned three and gave up Patterson’s only hit and run in the fifth.
Caleb Martinez led off the fifth with a hit up the middle for Patterson and advanced to third after a walk and a hit batsman with no outs. Tyler Bettencourt drove him in with a sacrifice fly.
Modesto helped his own cause with a 2-for-4 effort from the plate. He belted a double and drove in two runs. Steven Gigli (2B, three runs) and Riley (2B, RBI, three runs) both went 2 for 3.
The Lancers next face Lodi on the road today.
Sam Van Vuren went 2 for 4 and drove in a run with a double for the Indians. William Mestas went 2 for 4 with two RBIs to lead Central Valley, and winning pitcher Greg Guerra struck out six in 4 1/3 innings.
Ripon looks to bounce back against defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division V champion Central Catholic today at home.
Alex Dias tossed the five-inning shutout and struck out six and walked none to highlight the three-hitter. He was also 2 for 3 with three runs and two RBIs from the plate.
East Union erupted for six runs in the second frame and seven more in the fifth. Brock Swift (three runs) and Justin Ontiveros (three runs, five RBIs) contributed to the onslaught with 3-for-4 efforts.
Led by a strong pitching effort from senior Matt Barber, the Buffaloes made easy work of Atwater, 10-0, in six innings.
“I was concerned about how we’d do because we had a couple scrimmages canceled and we haven’t gotten much practice time on the field,” Manteca coach Gene Ballardo said. “But I’m happy with what I see.
“We’ll get a tougher test tomorrow against Tokay. We’ll see what our true colors are then.”
Barber was given all the run support he needed in the first inning when Manteca opened up a 2-0 lead. His economical outing consisted of just 62 pitches (46 strikes), three strikeouts, no walks and six hits in six innings.
“We’ve been inside a gym the last couple of days and didn’t have much time with bullpen sessions, but Matt still pitched really well,” Barber said.
Trey Roberts was Manteca’s most productive hitter, going 4 for 4 with two runs, two RBIs and two doubles from the No. 9 spot.
Gabe Rellamas (two RBIs) and Michael Timmins (2B, 3B, RBI) were each 2 for 3. Sophomore Daniel Miramontes went 2 for 2 with a double.
Manteca squares off with Tokay of Lodi at 3 p.m. today.
East Union 9, Patterson 1
PATTERSON — Joe Modesto and Brett Riley combined for a six-inning one-hitter and were backed by an error-free defense in the Lancers’ first game of the season. The contest was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed because of rain.Thursday’s game was called during the top of the seventh, when EU tacked on four more runs that did not count, because of darkness.
“It was just nice to get a game in,” EU coach Dan Triglia joked.
Modesto went four innings and struck out two for the win. Riley fanned three and gave up Patterson’s only hit and run in the fifth.
Caleb Martinez led off the fifth with a hit up the middle for Patterson and advanced to third after a walk and a hit batsman with no outs. Tyler Bettencourt drove him in with a sacrifice fly.
Modesto helped his own cause with a 2-for-4 effort from the plate. He belted a double and drove in two runs. Steven Gigli (2B, three runs) and Riley (2B, RBI, three runs) both went 2 for 3.
The Lancers next face Lodi on the road today.
Central Valley 7, Ripon 3
RIPON — Two costly errors leading to four unearned runs in the second inning doomed Ripon (1-1). Central Valley led 5-1 going into the third.Sam Van Vuren went 2 for 4 and drove in a run with a double for the Indians. William Mestas went 2 for 4 with two RBIs to lead Central Valley, and winning pitcher Greg Guerra struck out six in 4 1/3 innings.
Ripon looks to bounce back against defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division V champion Central Catholic today at home.
Sophomore
East Union 19, Patterson 0
PATTERSON — The Squires took advantage of 11 walks but also earned their way to the bases via 12 hits in their season-opening victory.East Union 19, Patterson 0
Alex Dias tossed the five-inning shutout and struck out six and walked none to highlight the three-hitter. He was also 2 for 3 with three runs and two RBIs from the plate.
East Union erupted for six runs in the second frame and seven more in the fifth. Brock Swift (three runs) and Justin Ontiveros (three runs, five RBIs) contributed to the onslaught with 3-for-4 efforts.
Manteca 7, Atwater 4
MODESTO — Freshman Anthony Cota logged five innings to earn the win for Manteca.— Jonamar Jacitno
