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Buffaloes win, tie Saturday in Modesto
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MODESTO – The Buffaloes came away with a win and a tie to close out the Johansen Tournament Saturday in Modesto, knocking off the tournament host, 6-5, in the first of two, and settling for an 8-8 time-limit-shortened tie with Los Banos in the nightcap.

Ryan Knisely did damage in both contests, finishing the day 4 for 8 with an RBI, while Kevin Allen went 1 for 3 with an RBI double against the Vikings, and 4 for 4 with three RBIs and an elusive stolen base against the Tigers.

Both Knisely and Allen have enjoyed hot-streaks lately. Thursday at Johansen, Allen hit two triples and blasted a homerun over 350 feet.

“Knisely’s been on a tear,” Manteca head coach Gene Ballardo said. “He’s very fast. He does a lot of different things very well for us.”

Bryce Copeland worked two innings, allowing two earned runs against Johansen, and was spelled by Matt Barber (3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 K) and Ricky Acosta (S, OH, OR).

In the Los Banos deadlock, Matt Burroughs got the start and went three, allowing one earned and five hits with one strikeout.

C.J. Rivas (1/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 BB) and Knisely (2 2/3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER) closed it out.

Acosta went 2 for 3 with a pair of RBIs in the nightcap.

“The tie was tough to swallow,” Ballardo said. “We made some mental mistakes that we need to clean up, but we also took the lead with three in the top of the seventh after being down two.

“This team is always fighting, it never gives up, and I’ll take that kind of team any day.”

The Buffaloes kick off the Walker Vick Tournament Monday at home.

Freshman
Manteca 12, Los Banos 2
Manteca 12, Downey 2
The Baby Buffs have fallen in love with the number 12.

Scoring 12 runs and winning by at least 10 in each of its four contests over the course of the Johansen Tournament, the Buffaloes took home the tournament crown going away.

Against the Tigers, Alex Martinez went 2 for 2 with 3 RBIs, and Daniel Miramontes was 2 for 4 with 4 RBIs.

Miramontes pitched three-plus, allowing just one earned and striking our seven.

Martinez closed it out.

Anthony Hernandez (3 for 4, 2B, RBI, 3 R) pitched four innings of two-run ball in the nightcap, striking out six, and Mikey Matthews closed it out with one strikeout.

Martinez was 2 for 3 with three runs scored and an RBI, and both Zach Menasco and Ricardo Hernandez knocked in two.

“We’re playing really well,” Manteca assistant coach Brad Garletts said. “Our approach at the plate has been very solid, and we’re playing well together.

“At the frosh level you can’t win without decent pitching, and that’s what we’re getting. The kids are throwing strikes.”

Manteca (4-0) heads to West High Wednesday.

— Brandon Petersen