Fifty years ago, on July 4, 1967, the McFall-Grisham Post celebrated the Fourth of July and the second game of the second half of play in the schedule with a 3-1 win over Sharpe Depot at Billy Hebert Field in Stockton. Butch Dowhower, who started on the hill for the Legion crew, went the distance and scattered four hits and his mates limited the Sharpe crew to one lonely tally in the first inning. This was the first time Dowhower had thrown since June 3, when he pitched against Karl Ross. Dowhower was in control all day for the win. John Tubbs and Jack Able were two for four at the plate for the locals.
In other sports stories
from the Bulletin files:
80 years ago: July 8, 1937 – The Spreckels Honeydews went on a batting spree at Recreation Park Friday night when they won from the highly-touted Helms Chevrolet softball team from Modesto by a count of 7-2. Eleven hits were garnered by the Mantecans, while Ed Winters continued his fine pitching to retire 17 batters on strikeouts in the seven innings.
40 years ago: July 8, 1977 – The Manteca Recreation Department’s swim team won its second Trans-County League meet Wednesday night by overpowering Patterson’s city team 428.5-180 at Lincoln pool. Turning in outstanding performances for the Dolphins were Kristin Wentworth and Cheryse Boyer of the girls’ squad and David Breitenbucher of the boys’ team. Miss Wentworth placed first in the freestyle, backstroke and butterfly competition in the six-and-under division. Boyer captured first in the seven to eight year-old events in the freestyle, backstroke and individual medley event s.
30 years ago: July 6, 1987 – Franks’ Exxon swept a doubleheader from Pizza Machine of Modesto 12-2 and 6-2 in yesterday’s Babe Ruth 16-18 Baseball action. In the first game which was stopped after 4.5 innings because of the 10-run rule, Pete Moreno and Joey Nunes each had two hits and combined to drive in three runs, while Steve Clark ripped a three-run triple. Eric Hill hurled a two-hitter for the victory, but gave up eight walks while striking out six. In the following tilt, Clark picked up his fourth and fifth RBI’s of the day with a two-run double. Winning pitcher Robbie Woods managed eight strikeouts, but surrendered eight hits and six walks.
Manteca’s Jason Franscella scampered home when Modesto pitcher Tony Graziani threw into centerfield on a pickoff attempt in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving Manteca a 6-5 victory at the Babe Ruth District 1 13 year-old tournament in Lodi Thursday night. Franscella had just stolen second, one of 11 stolen bases in the game for the locals.
20 years ago: July 7, 1997 – Ron Brown fired a one-under-par 71 on Saturday and followed up with a 77 on Sunday for a two-day total of 148 on the Manteca Park Golf Course, good enough to capture the championship flight of the Manteca City Seniors Golf Championship by a comfortable four-stroke margin and took home the top prize of $300.
Kyle Raymond knocked in five runs and a trio of players drove in two each as the Manteca Babe Ruth 14 year-old all-stars advanced with a 14-1 rout of Modesto American at the District 1 tournament on Thursday in Tracy. Raymond went 3-for-4 with a double and scored twice in the game.
Rudy Barney blasted a grand slam homer over the left centerfield fence to ignite a six-run second inning as the Manteca 15 year-old Babe Ruth all-stars walloped West Side 12-4 Thursday night at the District tournament in Hollister. Bryan Danley, Gary Basile and Barney each had two hits in the win. Jim McGee went the distance, scattering five hits and striking out seven to earn the victory.
Chad Hagglund belted a solo homer to ignite a three-run fourth inning as the Tri-County National all-stars defeated Modesto 13-5 in their District 1 Babe Ruth 16-18 Baseball tournament opener Thursday at Sierra High. The Nationals scored 13 unanswered runs after Modesto had taken a brief one-run lead in the third inning. Dan Almeida, Joey Segura and winning pitcher Andy Walker each collected two hits for the winners.
The Tri-County National 16 year-old all-stars dropped their District 1 Babe Ruth tournament opener 9-3 to Tri-County American. The winners benefitted from five errors and eight walks in defeating National. Getting two hits each for National were Ben McKinsey, Luis Almeida, Danny Vickers and Troy Vick. Vickers’ hits included a double and a triple.
10 years ago: July 8, 2007 – Manteca Babe Ruth’s 13-15 all-stars couldn’t stop themselves Sunday at the District 1 tournament at Lincoln High in Stockton. Facing Riverbank, which was mostly 13 year-olds, the locals jumped ahead with 12 runs in the first inning and coasted to an 18-1 victory in five innings of play. All 15 Manteca players ended up with at least two hits apiece. Jake Angelo had a bases-clearing triple and finished the game at 4-for-4. Marshall Swift, Dylan Schwarz and Curtiss May combined for a one-hitter from the mound.
