By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Manteca honors decorated seniors with signing event
Manteca softball signings
Manteca senior Jocelyn Baptist is joined by her family after signing with Cal State East Bay for softball. CAROL CREIGHTON/Courtesy photo

Four members of the Manteca High softball team’s accomplished senior class are ready to take their talents to the next level.

The school honored Jocelyn Baptist (Cal State East Bay), Alesia Harris (American River College), Lauren Moncada (Cal State San Bernardino) and Isabel Tonna (Hawai’i Pacific) on May 1 when they inked their commitments during a signing event.

Baptist and Moncada will be rivals in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, and Tonna will join them in the NCAA Division II ranks.

Injuries limited Baptist and Tonna’s senior season, but their future schools had already seen enough.

Baptist was among team leaders as a junior with a .432 average, 12 doubles and 23 RBIs. The first baseman is going to a Cal State East Bay team that recently completed a highly-successful 43-17 season that includes its first CCAA Tournament championship, an appearance in the NCAA Division II West Regional final and a No. 16 national ranking.

Cal State San Bernardino (21-29) is getting a versatile athlete in Moncada, a two-time All-VOL first-team selection. The catcher/outfielder hit .347 with four homers and 20 runs scored this past season.

Tonna was having another productive season in the pitcher’s circle for the Buffaloes before it was cut short by a knee injury in the final month. She finished with a 3.11 ERA with team-highs in strikeouts (62) and innings pitched (74.1). Hawai’i Pacific (8-36) competes in the Pacific West Conference and is under new leadership under Alex Takemura, who just completed his first campaign with the Sharks.

Harris had her best season at Manteca as a senior, hitting for a .348 average with 20 runs and 17 RBIs. American River College (22-21) welcomes the outfielder after qualifying for the California Community College Athletic Association NorCal Regionals for the third time in four years.

The four-year varsity players were part of historic moments for Manteca, most notably the Buffaloes’ first Sac-Joaquin Section semifinal-round appearances in 2024 and 2025. They were eliminated by Valley Oak League rivals in both instances, losing to eventual Division III champion Oakdale in 2024 and Central Catholic the following year. Manteca advanced to at least the quarterfinals in the last four seasons, compiling a 72-35 record.