Manteca High needed five innings to dispose of Central Valley on Wednesday.
The Buffaloes (2-1), behind the stellar pitching of Devin Sullivan, came away with a 10-0 non-league win at Central Valley.
“Devin did a great job pitching to contact and we made plays behind him,” said Manteca coach Neil MacDannald of his hurler.
Sullivan allowed just one hit and issued just one walk while getting offensive support from the likes of Ronaldo Tijero, Sam Rohovit, and Brett Kovacs.
Tijero went 3 for 4 with two RBI, Rohovit drove in a pair of runs and Kovacs scored twice.
“Our plan of putting the ball in the strike zone, playing catch on defense, and being situational on hitters on offense was well executed today,” McDannald added.
His team will play host to Los Banos on Thursday.
RC 3, Summerville 1
Good pitching, timely hitting and spectacular defense was the home recipe for Ripon Christian’s non-league win over Summerville.
Starting pitcher Connor McGovern went five innings, getting relief support while earning the win. He was helped out by his defense led by third baseman Jadon Vander Molen, who made several great plays including a sliding catch along the dugout fence.
The Knights (1-1) took the early lead thanks to Brandon Vrieling’s double in the second inning. Summerville tied the game in the fourth only have Ripon Christian respond with the go-ahead run by Brian Thomas, who scored on Travis Zuidervaart’s RBI single.
Travis Vander Molen added some insurance with his towering solo home run in the sixth.
The Knights will host Venture Academy to kick next week’s preseason play.
Lodi 6, East Union 5
Tied 5-5, visiting Lodi scored the game-winner in the eighth inning during Wednesday’s non-league affair.
The Lancers (0-2) played five strong innings, scoring five times in the fourth inning to knot the game at 5-5.
Sophomore Brayden Hardcastle delivered on a bases-loaded two-run double, plating Eric Flores and Marco Gonzales. Starting pitcher Adrian Affleje, who went the first five innings, helped out his cause with an RBI single in the frame.
East Union had a chance in the sixth on Gonzales’ double. He was left stranded.
Lodi scored a run in the third, added four in the fourth and the go-ahead in the eighth.
Both teams will play again Friday at Zupo Field in Lodi.
FROSH
Lodi 5, East Union 1
The Lancers committed four costly errors in the loss to visiting Lodi.
East Union received decent pitching but was hampered by the lack of defensive and offensive support.
TENNIS
Manteca 9, Sierra 0
Hard work appears to be paying off early in the season for the Buffaloes, who blanked rival Sierra in preparation for the upcoming Clovis Tournament.
Solomon Aniss, who is the Buffaloes’ top singles player prevailed by putting together some finishing points.
He defeated Kyle Banks in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.
No. 2 Kyle Thornburg blanked Sierra’s Laic Beugre, 6-0, 6-0.
The toughest battle was between No. 4 Yok Eyh Ma of Manteca and Mark Paule. Ma came eked out the win, 6-4, 6-4.
The Buffaloes (3-1) improved to 3-0 in Valley Oak League play while Sierra dropped to 0-3.
East Union 4, Oakdale 4
The Lancers and Mustangs ended their VOL match Wednesday due to darkness.
Oakdale swept the doubles while East Union’s top player Kyle Niendorf (6-4, 6-2), No. 3 Andrew Rosette (6-2, 6-7, 7-6), No. 4 Gerardo Romero (6-3, 6-4) and No. 5 Jose Sanchez (6-3, 7-5) registering victories.
The outcome of the match will be determined during a rematch between the two teams.
