LATHROP — When you rap out 15 hits and draw eight walks in just four innings, you probably will not need good pitching to win a softball game. But when your pitching is perfect, all the better.
And Manteca’s Haighley Kissee was perfect on Thursday.
The Buffaloes junior retired all 15 Lathrop batters she faced in a 22-0 mercy rule shortened Valley Oak League contest at Lathrop High. Kissee struck out five, had three putouts to first and went 3 for 4 with a double and three RBI.
“I started out pretty confident,” Kissee said. “And I just had to stay relaxed and stay patient in the box and hit my spots.
“When I was up at bat I was looking for that one that caught my eye and swinging hard.”
Despite the one-sided victory, Manteca coach Corey Navarro was not entirely pleased with his team’s outing.
“I got on the girls because in a game like this you have to do everything you are supposed to do,” Navarro said. “You can’t make little mistakes. You need to hit the ball well and do the little things.”
All of the Buffaloes offense came in just four innings as Manteca was retired in order in its first at-bat.
“We were real antsy in the first inning,” Navarro said. “We went 1-2-3 real quick to start, trying too hard to hit the ball and that is not how the game is played. You have to wait and let the ball get to you and that is what we started doing that second inning.
“When we made that adjustment, that was good. It showed me we can adjust to what is going on and make things happen. I am proud of Kissee throwing a perfect game – that is huge in itself – and the girls played good defense.”
Sierra Martinez helped with that adjustment for the Buffaloes (2-0 VOL, 5-2 overall). She led off the second with a double – one of four in the frame – and finished 3 for 5 with a pair of doubles and three RBI.
“At first we started really slow,” Martinez said. “But once we got to the second inning I started off with a double and then everyone got going.”
Rhiannon Genilla had an RBI double for Manteca in the second and finished 2 for 2 with two RBI, a walk and three runs.
“I am getting back in the softball mode from basketball,” Genilla said. “I am getting my swing back.
“I am trying to get my momentum back in my bat and I am glad I have a good team to back me up.”
Aryanna Martinez reached and scored in all three of her at-bats for the Buffaloes, hitting a two RBI double in the second.
The Spartans (0-1, 1-3) had just one hit out of the infield when Leslie Landeros hit a fly to left that Melanie Ramos chased down in the first inning.
Sierra 3, Central Catholic 0
The Timberwolves (2-0, 4-0) fell behind 3-0 in the first inning after committing three errors in the top half. Kendall Smith made them pay for the mistakes and slugged a three-run homer.
“After the first inning the girls settled down and started playing much better ball,” Sierra coach Vic DeAnda said. “We kept our composure even though we were down 3-0 after one.”
Smith ended up getting both of the Raiders’ hits on the day. Sierra sophomore Lindsey Walljasper was otherwise dominant, as she struck out 15 of the 26 batters she faced and walked none.
Devi Coglio cracked a two-run shot during Sierra’s four-run outburst that put the game away in the sixth. Kendelle Messersmith finished 3 for 3 with a double, and Julianna DeAnda and Legacy Barnes contributed two knocks apiece. Natalie Garcia contributed a triple in the second inning when the Timberwolves scored twice. Jasmin Aguilar tied it on a passed ball in the fourth, and Messersmith plated the go-ahead run an inning later.
East Union 12,
Weston Ranch 0
The Lancers (1-0, 5-0) were kind hosts in their VOL opener at Northgate Softball Complex, stepping off bases for nine of the 12 outs in the mercy-shortened win.
Delaney Pamplin (four innings) and Mikayla Bongi combined for the two-hit shutout. Deja Guzman was 3 for 3 to lead the offense, while Sam Owen (double), Alejandra Rascon, Allie Tajii and Jaelyn Stock added two hits apiece.
Freshman
East Union 21, Pittsburgh 0
Nadia Cardona (3 for 3) and Isabel Moreno (3 for 4) each pounded grand slam home runs to highlight East Union’s nonleague drubbing. Alicia Perez was 2 for 2.
Isabel Moreno pitched all five innings and walked one in her one-hitter.
