Manteca avenged one of its losses and may have secured a first-round game for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs after defeating Kimball 9-4 Thursday in Tracy.

The two teams were battling for third place in the final game of the Valley Oak League season. Manteca (7-5 VOL, 19-7-1 overall) is rolling into the postseason with a four-game winning streak.

Winning pitcher Nayellys Torres went the distance and racked up 10 strikeouts. She was also 2 for 2 with a triple and two RBIs at the plate.

The Buffaloes spotted their pitcher a three-run lead in the first inning, and they were up comfortably 9-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Jessica Almeida went 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI. Mohrgen Kissee was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Rayana Ladd contributed two RBIs.

Kimball (6-6, 15-10) was led by Sophia Coronado, who finished 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

Escalon 6, Ripon 3

Visiting Ripon (11-1, 18-4 overall) already had its second straight Trans-Valley League title ahead of the regular-season finale.

Caitlyn Campbell slugged her 13th home run of the season and drove in two runs. Rhylee Magazinovic went 4 for 4 with two runs.

The Indians jumped ahead 2-0 in the first inning, but the Cougars 8-4, 16-10) answered with two of their on in the bottom half.  Lucy Allbaugh belted three hits for Escalon, and Tulsa Carnes went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.