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Buffaloes stampede to tourney title game
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FOLSOM — Make it eight consecutive wins for the surging Manteca baseball team.
The Buffaloes sent 11 batters to the plate for seven runs in the top of the sixth inning to break away from a 2-2 tie and defeat Rio Americano 10-3 in the College Baseball Match Tournament. They’ll play for the championship against Yuba City (8-3) tonight at Folsom Lake College starting at 6.
“I am super proud of the grit we showed today,” Manteca coach Neil MacDannald said. “A lot of guys came up big when they got their chance.”
Starting pitcher Christian Cruz spotted himself an early lead with a two-run homer off Rio Americano ace Aiden Taylor in the second inning. Manteca (8-3-1) never trailed, but the Raiders (6-3) were able to tie it up with a run in each of the second and fourth innings.
Taylor was relieved by Jake Ramey in the sixth, and the floodgates opened for the opportunistic Buffaloes. They totaled 14 hits and got contributions up and down the lineup. Leadoff batter Alex Gouveia drove in two runs, while Ferrin Manuleleua (2 for 4, double, run), Zach Chamberlain (2 for 3, two RBIs, double, run), Ryan Ward (2 for 3, two runs) and Dominic Rea (2 for 4, RBI, two runs) came up with two hits apiece.
“Taylor is a legit pitcher, and I was super happy with our approach against him all day,” MacDannald said.
Cruz lasted three innings on the mound, striking out two while giving up a run on three hits and two walks. Winning pitcher Kenji Breitenbucher logged 2 2/3 innings in relief, and Isaac Maldonado retired all four batters he faced.

Fresno Easter Classic
Sierra 6, Bakersfield N. 2
MADERA — The Timberwolves (5-4) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first two innings, and starting pitcher Jacob Frisk kept Bakersfield North (3-8) silent from there.
Frisk allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out six over five innings before he was replaced by Jason Silva. The Stars didn’t score until the seventh inning and ended with three hits.
Sierra did much of its damage in the bottom of the fourth when J.T. Ortiz-Martinez, Carlos Tovar, Chase Sperbeck and Jesse Ortiz-Martinez each drove in a run. Sperbeck finished 2 for 4 with a double and a triple. Mateo Molieri went 2 for 3 with a double.
Sierra caps tournament play today against Cosumnes Oaks at Hoover High starting at 1.

Nonleague
Freedom 8, East Union 1
OAKLEY — Freedom (5-3) took advantage of two errors and two hit batsmen to score six runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Relief pitchers Anthony Contreras and Sammy Nieves were able to settle things down for the Lancers (4-4), but the team struggled to put hits together. Their lone run came in the seventh when Danny Marquez scored on a wild pitch.
East Union will play a nonleague doubleheader today against Lodi at Zupo Field. First pitch for Game 1 is set for 3 o’clock.

Valley Oak League
Oakdale 4,
Weston Ranch 0
STOCKTON — Josh Garcia had his way with the Cougars’ batters, striking out nine in the complete-game gem for Oakdale (2-1 VOL, 5-6 overall).
Weston Ranch (0-3, 4-5-2) had a solid pitching efforts from Rylan Tinsley and Gabriel Melgar. Tinsley fired seven strikeouts and gave up two earned runs in five innings, while Melgar threw two perfect innings in relief. Amier Bowen went 2 for 3 at the plate.

Sophomore
Manteca 11, Tracy 6
TRACY — After falling behind 6-1 through three innings, the Buffaloes (10-0-1) erupted for eight in the top of the fifth to escape with the win.
Isaiah Perez led the onslaught, going 3 for 5 with a double and three RBIs. Rafael Diaz went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Isaac Searcy also drove in a run, finishing 2 for 3. Manteca totaled 13 hits.
Winning pitcher Angelo Nunez struck out three in two scoreless innings in relief. It was his first appearance of the season.