Manteca High’s softball team provided pitcher Selena Gonzalez all the run support she needed in a 10-0, five-inning victory over Weston Ranch Monday.

All Gonzalez really needed was one.

The freshman tossed her first varsity no-hitter and struck out five, though she did walk six.

Manteca (6-4 Valley Oak League, 9-7 overall) did some walking of its own while belting eight hits, as Weston Ranch’s pitchers struggled to find the plate.

Gonzalez went 2 for 2 and drove in half of the team’s runs, including three with a double in the second inning. She later crushed a two-run single in the third, when the Buffaloes plated six to put the mercy rule in play.

Leadoff hitter Mia Ramirez walked twice, was hit once, scored twice and recorded a knock on her only official at-bat. Melissa Bond contributed a three-run double in the third inning. Chellsee Lee and Rochelle Perez each scored twice.

With the win, Manteca stays within striking distance of Ceres (5-2, 11-6-1). After losing 10-0 in their first meeting, Manteca nearly upset Ceres last week in a 5-2 loss.

The Buffaloes also stunned rival Sierra last week, and Manteca coach Todd Hardcastle hopes to continue the solid play when the team next takes on second-place East Union at Northgate Softball Complex Wednesday.

“We’ve been playing well,” Hardcastle said. “I wish we would have played this well in the first half (of league play), but now we’re playing the way we know we can play. Hopefully we can take that into Wednesday.”

SONORA — The Timberwolves (5-4, 11-8) hope they’ve put their hitting woes behind them after Monday’s shelling of Sonora. The Wildcats (4-6, 9-9-2) previously upset Sierra 3-1 on April 5.

Gabby Hawkins struck out 12 in her two-hit gem from the circle, and she was helped tremendously by three recent additions to the squad.

Freshmen Iyana Hughes and Sommer Wilson and sophomore Shakira Lewis were recently called up from the sophomore team, and it didn’t take long for them to contribute to the varsity team.

Shakira Lewis went 3 for 4, while Hughes and Wilson were both 2 for 4. One of Wilson’s hits was a two-run homer.

Daylynn Penner (two doubles) and Alysia Atkins were each 3 for 4, as the Timberwolves finished with 17 hits.

“They’re all seasoned players,” Sierra coach Nick Olmo said of the underclassmen. “Sommer brings a  lot of power, and Ayana and Shakira are slappers and drag bunters with a lot of speed.

“They’ve allowed us to shake things up a little bit in the batting order and gave us a different dimension overall in the lineup.”

Sierra has a make-up game with Weston Ranch at home today, though there is a chance of that one also raining out.
— Jonamar Jacinto