Dominic Pisano went 3 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs and was part of a four-man pitching committee in Manteca High’s 9-6 victory over Tokay at Zupo Field in Lodi Friday night.

Buffalo coach Gene Ballardo didn’t want to overwork his pitching staff in its only contest over spring break, but he didn’t want it to get rusty either. Ace Jake Corn threw two scoreless innings, with winning pitcher Jeremy Vaughn and Lucas Vaughn following with two apiece. Pisano recorded the save, getting a big second out from outfielder Joe Menzel in the left-center gap.

Manteca led 6-0 before the Tigers (7-6) roared back with four in the bottom of the fourth. The Buffaloes scratched across three more runs over the next two frames and held on from there.

Buddy Reeder (RBI) and Nate Chivello were 2 for 4. Manteca (7-3) opens its always-intense rivalry series with East Union at home Tuesday.

“We want to keep our pitchers fresh for the upcoming week,” Ballardo said. “Overall, it was a good experience for the kids to play under the lights in an atmosphere like that. Tokay is definitely a good-hitting ballclub and they’re not going to lie down by any means.”



Sophomores

Tokay 9, Manteca 1

Chase McKee (4 innings) and Ryan Harbeck (2 innings) pitched well enough to keep Manteca (7-5) in the ballgame, but errors led to five unearned runs.

A.J. Kieffaber, who walked three times, knocked in Cade Buffalow in the fifth inning for Manteca’s lone run.