Eighty years ago, on July 16, 1936, Otto L. Steele, Frank Candini, James Castro and Clyde Wilson motored to Oakland and while there called on Milo Candini, who is pitching for the Chapel of the Oaks baseball club, which is sponsored by the New York Yankees. Many local baseball fans are strong in their belief that the Manteca boy is destined soon to be seen in the uniform of a major league club.

In other sports stories

from the Bulletin files:

70 years ago: July 17, 1946 – The local Legion baseball team, composed of Junior Legion members and members of Hope McFall Post, American Legion, journeyed to Sonora Sunday to meet the Sonora Lumber Company. Losing by a score of 7 to 3, the local boys played a good brand of ball. Bob Grunsky and Leon Bridge pitched for the Legionnaires.

In a fast softball game last Friday night, the Manteca Merchants lost to the Jensen All-stars of Modesto. The local boys ended up on the short end of a 3-2 score. Pete Evenson was on the mound for Manteca and pitched four-hit ball.

60 years ago: July 16, 1956 – The Manteca Lions Babe Ruth-type team added a win to its record this past week by downing the Babe Ruth team from Mountain View, 17-1. Top man at the plate for Manteca was Bruce Checchi, who collected two triples and a single in four trips.

40 years ago: July 14, 1976 – Manteca’s 13 year-old Babe Ruthers scored 10 runs in the sixth and seventh innings for an incredible 14-10 victory over Modesto in District 5 tournament play. Outfielder Billy Emperador provided much of the offensive fireworks for the all-stars with two hits and three runs.

The Manteca Babe Ruth 14-15 team took an important 5-1 verdict over Lodi-North Wednesday night in District tournament play. The pivotal performance came from Louis Small, who pitched to his second tournament win. The big blow for Manteca came in the sixth inning when Mark Azevedo hit ball into the leftfield corner, chasing home two runs.

George Azevedo State Farm Insurance complimented its strong offensive attack with excellent pitching to sweep a doubleheader Sunday at Galt, 3-1 and 2-1 in Babe Ruth 16-18 Baseball action. Darrell Womack hurled no-hit ball for nearly five innings before allowing his only safety. Womack helped himself in the seventh with a triple to score Brett Chamberlain. It was Bob O’Rourke’s turn to shine in the nightcap as he scattered six hits. Dave Greene had two singles for State Farm.

Tradeway Chevrolet ended the Babe Ruth 16-18 campaign by splitting a twin-bill with Amador, winning the first, 12-5 and then dropping the closer, 7-4, Sunday on the East Union High diamond. In the first game victory, Carlos Herrera continued his season-long hitting spree with three hits, including a double. In the nightcap, Amador banged out 10 hits for the decision. Chris Elliott stroked a pair of hits for Tradeway.

The Manteca Dolphins swim team was victorious for the fourth straight time when it defeated Escalon344-274 Saturday at Escalon. Triple winners for the Dolphins were: Kevin Wentworth (7-8 boys), Desiree Dowell (11-12 girls), David Breitenbucher (13-14 boys), Jill Pinto (15-17 girls) and Jeff Wright (15-17 boys).

30 years ago: July 13, 1986 – A 14-2 victory on Saturday night over the Central Valley All-stars at Lodi’s Kofu Park gave Frank’s Exxon a two-game sweep for the District 1 Babe Ruth 16-18 Baseball crown and sent them to next week’s Central California State Tournament in Clovis. Frank’s blasted nine runs in the top of the fifth inning to secure the win. Jim Davis was the winning pitcher, giving up four hits, striking out six and walking two. He also helped himself with three hits, two RBI and a run scored. Joe Dias, Jim Lindsay and Donnie Hall all had doubles in the big fifth inning.

Madison-Post 249 American Legion Baseball team played one of its better games this season, banging out nine hits and committing no errors, to down Franklin 3-1 Friday night in Stockton. Frank Gonzales doubled and scored a run for the locals.

Eric Wohle broke three individual records and won high point honors in the 13-14 age division, leading the Manteca Dolphins youth swim team to second place in an invitational meet at Hughson this weekend. Wohle won the 100 free in 54.36, the 100 IM in 1:02.95 and the 50 free in 24.46.

The Manteca Babe Ruth 14 year-olds were four-hit Wednesday by Lodi in a 14-1 loss that put them out of the District 1 tournament at Downey Park in Modesto. Manteca scored its lone run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Ryan Walker and Brian Wadford singled, Ruben Garcia reached on an error and Allan Martinez walked to force in Walker with a run.

20 years ago: July 14, 1996 – Missed opportunities and clutch plays by the San Benito Babe Ruth all-stars KO’ed the title hopes of the Manteca all-stars in the District 1 14 year-olds tournament at Gustine High School Saturday afternoon. Stranding the tying runner at third in the seventh inning, Manteca was defeated 4-3. Both Tye Daniels and Rudy Barney had two hits in a losing cause.

For the fourth time in as many games, the Manteca Babe Ruth 15 year-old all-stars “ten-runned” its opponents with the latest win a 16-3 rout of San Benito Saturday afternoon in the title game of the District 1 tournament at East Union High’s Agostini Field. Winning pitcher Robert Perkins struck out six batters and scattered five hits for the victory. J. T. Hardcastle, Jack Arroyo and Ben McKinsey each had two hits, while Hardcastle and Perkins each drove in three runs in the win. Manteca now advances to the Central California State Tournament next Saturday in San Luis Obispo.

The Tri-county Babe Ruth 16-18 all-stars pounded Modesto 11-1 Sunday to win the District 1 tournament at Agostini Field. Cardoza Cougars right-fielder Joey Sergent, one of three Manteca players on the squad, hit a solo home run in the win.

Led by the record-setting performances of Lynae Brown and the 200 meter freestyle relay team in the girls’ 11-12 division, the Manteca Dolphins raced to a second-place finish at the Hughson Invitational Swim Meet Saturday. Brown broke meet records in the 50 breaststroke and 100 IM and was part of the record-setting relay team with Stacy Brock, Jamie Heupel and Amber Washington. Nathan Toone won the hig-point trophy in the boys’ 15-16 category. He took firsts in the 50 and 100 freestyles. Christine Brock was another high-point trophy winner as she won the 50 breaststroke and 100 freestyles in the girls’ 13-14 division. Both Brown and Stacy Brock won three events in the 11-12 group. Brown added a win in the 50 butterfly to her other victories, while Brock took firsts in the 50 and 100 freestyle and in the 50 backstroke. In boys’ 11-12, Michael Buccieri was high-point winner with firsts in the 50 breast and 50 back. Beau Riley took high-point honors in boys’ 6-and-under with wins in the 25 and 50 freestyles and 25 backstroke. In 6-and-under girls, Christin Gowan won the 25 and 50 freestyle races.

10 years ago: July 18, 2006 – Austin McDonnell, Karah Thode and Alyssa Toone went undefeated during the Manteca Dolphins’ 973.5-752.5 rout of host Ripon Saturday in a Mid-Valley Conference swimming dual meet. McDonnell (9-10 boys) won the 100 freestyle (1:17.7) and also claimed the 100 IM and the 50 butterfly races. Thode and Toone continued their tear on the girls’ side. Thode won the 50 fly and 50 free, while Toone finished first in the 100 free, 50 fly and 50 free. Other double winners were Jon Brandi (13-14) in the 50 fly and 50 free, Brett Gumm (15-16) took the 50 free and the 100 free, Josiah Solten (9-10) won the 50 back and 50 free, CJ Essenwein (6 & Under) took the 25 fly and 25 breast, Ashley Burns (15-16), the 100 IM and 50 back, the brother-sister tandem of Nathan (13-14) and Katie O’Leary (7-8) each won two events and Taylor Swift (11-12) won the 100 IM and 50 fly.

The Manteca Babe Ruth 15 year-old All-stars shellacked San Benito 17-0 Saturday in the District 1 tournament. Jordan Archuleta went 2-for-2 with three RBI, including a pinch-hit, two-run single in the third inning. Teddy Anderson and Cody Lee highlighted a nine-run fifth with a pair of two-run singles, inducing the 10-run mercy rule. Anderson scored three runs, slapped three singles and reached in all four plate appearances at Agostini Field.