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Hoffman’s 2-run single sends Manteca to District 67 Little League final
Manteca 12U All-Stars
Manteca’s Westley De Hart scores. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

SALIDA — With one out in the top of the sixth Tuesday, Brayden Hoffman poked a two-RBI, opposite-field single to give Manteca a one-run lead, which it held through the bottom of the frame for a thrilling 5-4 win over tournament host Salida in the consolation final of the District 67 12-and-under all-star tournament at Salida Park.

With one out in the Manteca sixth, Alex Gomes dribbled a grounder up the first-base line which was fielded by the Salida pitcher who elected try to tag Gomes instead of throwing to first. Gomes was called out initially, but after the umpires conferred Gomes was ruled safe. Westley De Hart (2 for 2, two runs) followed with a single, bringing Hoffman (2 for 3, RBI) to the plate, and his base hit scored Gomes and De Hart.

Henry Bautista (2 for 3) led off the bottom of the sixth with a single for Salida, but Hoffman retired the next three batters in order on a pair of strikeouts and a highlight-reel catch on a pop foul by first baseman Cash Junqueiro. Hoffman entered the game in the third following a Tyler Glennon leadoff home run, retiring the side in order in the fourth and finishing with five strikeouts, three hits and a run.

Manteca scored three runs in the fourth to tie the game at 3-3 with all three runs coming via errors. De Hart reached on a one-out single, took second on a wild pitch, went to third on a Hoffman single and came home when Chris Antellas reached via a throwing error on a dropped strike three. Hoffman and Antellas both scored on a dropped two-out fly ball in the outfield.

Manteca’s resurgence in the third came about after Salida starting pitcher Bautista left the game with one out. Bautista faced 11 batters and retired 10, striking out the side in the first and fanning six overall with no hits. The only Manteca batter to reach was Jakob Hubbard who got on thanks to a first-inning error.

Manteca advances to the championship round tonight against Northgate at 6. The two teams played on Thursday, July 2 with Northgate dispatching Manteca to the consolation bracket with a 14-4 mercy rule win. A Northgate win ends the tournament, while a Manteca win forces a winner-take-all contest Friday.