MODESTO — Manteca High’s boys tennis team now has a two-match lead in the Valley Oak League after toppling Central Catholic 6-3 on Friday.
It’s the most competitive match in league for the Buffaloes (8-0, 9-6 overall) thus far, and the gusty conditions and partisan crowd made things interesting.
“This was one of the windiest matches I have ever coached in — it literally never stopped,” Manteca coach Frank Fontana said. “It was a tough day playing at CC.”
Yok Whai Ma (6-4, 6-2) contributed a big win at No. 4 singles, defeating Dane Juarez. No. 2 Si Hao Tang knocked off Sam Nicholson 6-2, 6-2, while No. 3 Yok Eyh Ma swept Angelo Traina, 6-1, 6-3.
Solman Aniss dropped the No. 1 match 4-6, 3-6 to Central standout Conor Fenton. The Raiders also got wins from John Dunn (6-1, 6-4) and Donald Miller (6-1, 6-2).
“I thought we needed three singles matches and todayYok Whai Ma played fantastic,” Fontana said. “He listened and did exactyly what he needed to do — it may have been the key win. I felt going into the match we had the advantage at No. 2 and 3 singles.
Manteca had some challenges in the three doubles matches but came up with victories. Dhillon Patel and Kevin Lin rolled past John Houghton and Will Lyons 7-5, 6-1 at No. 1 doubles. Jake Tolbert and Cameron Gonzales combined for a 6-2, 6-1 triumph, and Robert Foo and Niko Pilares eked out a 4-6, 7-5, 10-8 win over Moises Nuney and Peter Fogarty.

Sierra 8, East Union 1
East Union made the Timberwolves work for what ended up being a landslide victory.
Most of the matches were tight. Sierra’s Kyle Banks fended off Jake Kramer 6-3, 6-4 in the showdown between No. 1 players, and No. 2 Ryan Brock sneaked out a 5-7, 7-5, 10-8 win over Hector Romero.
Mat Len (7-5, 6-4) and Milton Yamomo (7-6, 7-6) had their hands full with Jeffin Abraham and Ryan Austin, respectively. At No. 6 singles, Fabian Barba knocked off Johns Thomas, 6-4, 6-0.
East Union’s lone point came from No. 3 Matthew Vadachira, who toppled Orin Yamomo 3-6, 6-2, 10-5. Sierra’s No. 1 doubles team of Kobe Salas and Ivan Tapia won, 6-4, 6-1. The Lancers forfeited the other two doubles contests.

Softball
Ripon Christian 17,
Gustine 6
GUSTINE — Trailing 6-2 through three innings, the Knights (2-1 Southern League, 7-4 overall) exploded for 15 unanswered runs as pitcher Maddy DeGraaf (five hits, five strikeouts, four walks) took control from the circle.
Katie O’Leary helped spark the offense with a home run and drove in two runs. Emily Van Vliet and Nikki Berghorst each had three RBIs, while Ariel Vander Woude (double), Rylie Nunes and DeGraaf (double) added two apiece.

Baseball
Manteca 7,
Vista del Lago 6
FOLSOM — The Buffaloes (9-5) improved to 4-0 all-time against its nonleague opponent on Friday, and every game was decided by two or less runs.
In the rematch of last year’s Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinal series, Manteca accumulated five runs in the second and led 7-0 after the third inning. Vista del Lago (6-1) didn’t go away quietly, rallying for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to close to within one.
Joel Olmos and Alex Gouveia both drove in a pair of runs for the Buffs, while Zach Chamberlain and Gerson Gomez plated two each. Kyle Rachels was the winning pitcher, striking out three and allowing two runs on three hits and a walk over four innings.