LODI – The Manteca 15-year-old Babe Ruth All-Star team opened up their Central California District 1 State Qualifier Tournament with a convincing 11-1 mercy-rule shortened victory over the Ripon All-Star team Thursday at Kofu Park.
Manteca went down in order against Ripon starter Kyle Hvizda in the first inning, but opened the first inning with centerfielder Anthony Cota reaching on an error to get a rally going. Gerald Parente got Manteca on the board with an RBI groundout and things simply fell apart from there for Ripon.
Manteca posted four consecutive 2-out RBI singles for a 5-0 lead and then Cota came to the plate, for the second time in the inning, and promptly drove in another run with an RBI single. A bases-loaded walk two batters later would push Manteca up 7-0 after just two innings.
Manteca followed up its monstrous second inning with a three-up three-down third from starting pitcher Mark Crain. Crain was on point through his four innings of work, holding Ripon to just three hits and striking out five, while not surrendering a run.
Anthony Flores came on for the fifth and gave up Ripon’s only run before leftfielder Tyler Plumb made a one-handed grab on a bobbled catch, doubling off a Ripon base runner who hadn’t tagged up at second. The Ripon run seemingly ignited Manteca, as they pushed across four more runs to halt the contest with two outs in the fifth.
Manteca was led by leadoff hitter Makana Ward, who finished the blowout 3 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Cota was 2 for 4 with a pair of runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Plumb was 2 for 3 on the day with two runs scored and an RBI.
Ripon got base hits from Lewis Corvie, Joseph Hvizda and Kyle Hvizda, while both Luciano Gonzalez and Hunter Day collected hits as well. Corvie came around to plate Ripon’s only run after being hit by a pitch.
Manteca will look to open tournament play with a quick two wins when they take on the winner of the Escalon-San Benito contest Saturday at 4 p.m. Ripon will try and claw its way up through the loser’s bracket, meeting up with the loser of that contest at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Manteca went down in order against Ripon starter Kyle Hvizda in the first inning, but opened the first inning with centerfielder Anthony Cota reaching on an error to get a rally going. Gerald Parente got Manteca on the board with an RBI groundout and things simply fell apart from there for Ripon.
Manteca posted four consecutive 2-out RBI singles for a 5-0 lead and then Cota came to the plate, for the second time in the inning, and promptly drove in another run with an RBI single. A bases-loaded walk two batters later would push Manteca up 7-0 after just two innings.
Manteca followed up its monstrous second inning with a three-up three-down third from starting pitcher Mark Crain. Crain was on point through his four innings of work, holding Ripon to just three hits and striking out five, while not surrendering a run.
Anthony Flores came on for the fifth and gave up Ripon’s only run before leftfielder Tyler Plumb made a one-handed grab on a bobbled catch, doubling off a Ripon base runner who hadn’t tagged up at second. The Ripon run seemingly ignited Manteca, as they pushed across four more runs to halt the contest with two outs in the fifth.
Manteca was led by leadoff hitter Makana Ward, who finished the blowout 3 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Cota was 2 for 4 with a pair of runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Plumb was 2 for 3 on the day with two runs scored and an RBI.
Ripon got base hits from Lewis Corvie, Joseph Hvizda and Kyle Hvizda, while both Luciano Gonzalez and Hunter Day collected hits as well. Corvie came around to plate Ripon’s only run after being hit by a pitch.
Manteca will look to open tournament play with a quick two wins when they take on the winner of the Escalon-San Benito contest Saturday at 4 p.m. Ripon will try and claw its way up through the loser’s bracket, meeting up with the loser of that contest at 10 a.m. Saturday.
