Sophomore Dominic Pisano and Lucas Vaughn combined for a five-inning no-hitter and were a pitch away from perfection as they led Manteca High’s 11-0 drubbing of Weston Ranch Tuesday.
Jake Corn emphatically ended the abbreviated Valley Oak League contest in the bottom of the fifth, when he drilled a two-run homer to right field. The Buffaloes (1-0, 6-3 overall) were in the middle of a five-run, no-out rally when the mercy-rule was enforced.
It was a sterling two-man pitching effort for Manteca, and that’s with its ace, Corn, gearing up for Thursday’s rematch at Weston Ranch.
“We’re real deep with pitching this year,” said Pisano, who walked Weston Ranch No. 8 hitter Joe Tillman with a full count to break up the perfect game in the third. “Jake deals, but we have people backing him up.”
The pitchers were just as deadly with the bat. Pisano finished 3 for 3 with a double, a walk, two runs and two RBIs. Vaughn was 2 for 4 with two runs from the top of the order. The tandem set the tone in the bottom of the first when Vaughn scorched a leadoff double and was driven in by Pisano’s single.
Manteca started the second inning in similar fashion, with Dillon Lauborough leading off with a two-bag knock and Nathan Chivello driving him home with a single. Chivello plated a run later in the inning to push Manteca’s lead to 3-0.
The Buffaloes, however, left five runners on base over the first three frames, four of them in scoring position.
“We need that two-out hit with guys on base,” Manteca coach Gene Ballardo said. “I’d like to see us get more production in those situations. We’re a young team, so we’re a work in progress.”
Weston Ranch hopes to not see the finished product as soon as this Thursday.
“I thought Cody Simerly pitched a good game for us, but Manteca is a good hitting team that puts the ball in play,” Weston Ranch coach Ron Wayman said. “They also had phenomenal pitching today, and their defense made all the plays behind them.”
Oakdale 9, East Union 0
In Oakdale, the Lancers (0-1, 4-4) struggled to get untracked as pitcher Eddie Machado was in full command of a dominating breaking ball. He struck out 11, all looking, and allowed just four hits.
Jordan Kron accounted for two of those East Union knocks and also started on the hill, lasting just four innings after giving up five runs (4 earned) on five hits, five walks and two hit batters. Kron did strike out six.
Eriksen Dickens was 3 for 3 with two doubles and a two-run homer for Oakdale (1-0, 6-4).
Kimball 21, Lathrop 2
In Lathrop, Kimball (1-0, 8-0) continued its undefeated streak to start the season as it looks to establish itself as a legitimate contender in its third varsity season.
Nathan Van Katwyk threw a five-inning no-hitter for the Jaguars, but he issued six walks against five strikeouts. The offense spotted him a 16-0 lead going into the bottom of the second.
Michael Pereznegron drove in both of Lathrop’s runs with fielder’s choices. The Spartans fell to 3-6 overall.
Southern League
Ripon Christian 8, Le Grand 4
In Ripon, Le Grand (1-1, 2-7) took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth when RC broke out for five runs.
Jon Vander Molen was 2 for 3 with two runs and one driven in. Chris Saenze added a double and two RBIs for the Knights (3-0, 4-5-1).
Sophomore
East Union 8, Oakdale 4
Marco Gonzales powered the Squires with two bases-clearing doubles, and Bailey Simons contributed an RBI triple.
Winning pitcher Kyle Emerson struck out four and gave up one earned run over six innings.
Manteca 12, Weston Ranch 2
The Buffaloes overcame a bases-loaded, no-out threat while nursing a 3-2 lead and came alive late to finish this one in six innings.
A.J. Kieffaber and Chase McKee were each 2 for 3 with two RBIs, and Ryan Harbeck pitched four innings and struck out five. McKee threw the final two and fanned six.
