The Manteca High varsity baseball squad took care of business early on against Weston Ranch.

The playoff-bound Buffaloes did so in methodical fashion – great pitching, solid defense and plenty of run support.

 “I know (the Cougars) haven’t won too many games, but my mindset was as if we were playing Oakdale or any of the top teams in Valley Oak League,” said Manteca High pitcher Matt Burrows, who surrendered just one hit in the 13-0 victory that secured a Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV playoff berth.

Burrows also fanned seven and walked three.

The game was called midway through the fifth inning due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Still, Weston Ranch took some solace in the outcome after getting blown out during the last go-around with the Buffaloes.

“This was our last game – we played hard,” said assistant coach Will Scharnow.

His junior pitcher, Tyler Scharnow, made his first start since returning from injury.

Still, Manteca High (10-4, 16-8 overall) had too much fire power for the Cougars to handle.

The Buffaloes jumped out to a 9-0 first-inning lead, sending 13 batters to the plate while taking advantage of six hits, three walks and an error.

Gabe Rellamas led off with single and stole second. Michael Timmins and Daniel Miramontes followed with a walk and base hit, respectively, thus, loading the bases.

Burrows had a quality, 10-pitch, at-bat before drawing an RBI walk. Danny Gouveia then delivered a first-pitch, run-scoring single. Kevin Peck plated another run with a walk, with Burrows scoring on a fielder’s choice.

After Zach Gase’s single, Rellamas ripped a two-run double. Timmins followed with RBI single. He and Rellamas scored on a dropped fly ball with two outs.

Weston Ranch (0-14, 1-19-1) managed its only hit on Josh Johnson’s two-out single in the second inning.

The Buffaloes added three more in their half of the second fueled by Mikey Matthews’ two-run single and Gase’s triple along the sun-drenched and windy right field.

In the third, Manteca added one more run on Anthony Hernandez’s RBI double. He also battled the elements in right field to register a pair of putouts in the fifth.

The Buffaloes managed 12 hits, with Gase, Rellamas, and Miramontes collecting two hits each in the VOL finale.

“It was great to get everyone into the game today as we get ready for the playoffs,” said Manteca assistant coach Mike Costa.



Kimball 11, Lathrop 1

The Spartans (2-12 VOL, 5-18-1 overall) were able to scratch a single run across in the fourth, but that would be all as Lathrop dropped its final contest of the VOL season to Kimball Friday 11-1.

Oscar Calix got the start for the Spartans, going four-plus innings, scattering four hits and only yielding a pair of earned runs. Kimball took advantage of Lathrop miscues on their way to a five-run fifth inning.

Gabe Castellanos collected two of the Spartans three hits, and Jared Weiler came around to score their lone run on a passed ball.

“The kids gave it their all today,” Lathrop head coach Randy Baltazar said. “And we are getting better every year. All good things must come to an end, and I know the seniors on this club will be missed.”



Southern League
Ripon Christian 17, Delhi 0

The host Knights (5-7, 7-14-2) got a sterling pitching effort from Wes Lown, who pitched all five innings while fanning eight in a three-hit shutout.

Ripon Christian staked a 10-0 lead by the fourth inning and tacked on seven more.

Leading hitters were: Elijah English (2B, RBI, two runs), Kalvin Prins (2 for 2, 2B, RBI, three runs), Dominic Nelson (2 for 4, 2B, 3B, four RBIs, two runs) and Colby DeVries (2 for 3, two 2B, four RBIs, two runs).



Sophomores
East Union 9, Sierra 2

The Lancers finished off an impressive season with a 9-2 win over Sierra and a piece of the VOL championship Friday at East Union.

Justin Nieto went the distance for the Lancers, scattering six hits and striking gout nine in the victory. Kyle Adriaens was 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of RBI and three runs scored. Jacob Danhoff smashed an RBI double for East Union as did Brennan Koeller.

“We knew coming in that we had to win both,” East Union head coach Mike James said. “Like any coach I had expectations for us to win the championship and we were able to do that. But, it’s really about what we do with these kids.

“I’m most proud because nobody expected us to do anything this year.”

East Union (12-2 VOL, 15-5 overall) split with the co-champion Mustangs in its home-home series, beating  Oakdale on their diamond 4-1 and losing at home 3-1.