Fifty years ago, on March 22, 1967, Manteca High hurler Phil Brown gave up only two hits last night but still lost to Tracy High 1-0 at the Gallagher Tournament in Stockton. A well-placed squeeze bunt forced across the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning for Tracy.

In other sports stories from the Bulletin files:

90 years ago: March 24, 1927 – Manteca High, after having the game won from Tracy High, blew up in the final inning and allowed Tracy to score six runs and tie the score at 8 to 8. The game was called because of darkness. It was played in Tracy.

70 years ago: March 27, 1947 – Manteca High played its first baseball game of the season Friday when they played Modesto High in a non-league contest on the local diamond in the afternoon. The Buffaloes were outdistanced by the more experienced Modesto team. Both teams committed only three errors apiece in the seven-inning game. Modesto batted out 14 hits and scored nine runs to Manteca’s five hits and three runs.

60 years ago: March 28, 1957 – Te Manteca High cindermen took top place in a three-way meet with Liberty and Edison Highs on the home track last Thursday—Manteca 142.5, Edison 135 and Liberty 68.5. The Manteca 880 relay team of Bill VanderVenter, Milton Moore, Jim Mayfield and Gary Barlow took first place with a time of 1:39.6.

40 years ago: March 23, 1977 – East Union High’s baseball team scored three times with two outs in the sixth inning last Friday afternoon, giving the Lancers a Valley Oak League opening 5-4 decision over winless Sonora High.  Temo Chavez scored from second on a single by Tim Ramil for the eventual game-winner.

Manteca High chose a perfect time to snap its four-game losing streak last Friday afternoon, opening the VOL season with a 6-2 win over Los Banos High. Strong pitching by lefthander Darrell Womack, who struck out 10 men, while walking only three batters and giving up only three hits was the big reason for the victory. Pete Duenas led the team offensively with a triple and a single.

With two strong Manteca linemen representing both local high schools to lead the way, the North team will try to win its first Lions Central California Prep all-star football game on July 31 in Stockton. The pair, who were all-VOL linemen, are Jeff Watson of Manteca High and Marlon Hughes of East Union High. A 6-3, 255-pound tackle, Watson will be the biggest player on the squad. For the 5-9, 185-pound Hughes, the selection is but another in long list of honors for the straight-A student. 

The top boys and girls athletes at Manteca High were honored last week before a large crowd at the MRPS Hall. Those named outstanding defense, basketball – Don Joseph; outstanding offense, basketball – Steve Cimoli; MVP’s, girls’ basketball – Renee Sutti, Denise Martin and Esther Valdez; outstanding defense, soccer – Brian Head; outstanding offense – Jack Van Strijp; wrestling MVP – Ed Mayfield.

30 years ago: March 25, 1987 – East Union High’s golf team dealt cross-town foe Manteca High a convincing 205-211 defeat at the Manteca Park golf course Tuesday, snapping the Buffaloes’ seven-year domination between the two schools. The Lancers are now 10-0 on the season. Despite Kevin Wentworth, the defending state champ, shooting a 36, the Buffs couldn’t match up with EU’s strength across the board. EU’s David Horton carded a 37.

Coach Sharyl Burgeson’s Manteca High netters, despite the absence of top singles player Eddie Hubik, breezed to an easy 13-2 VOL win over cross-town rival East Union High at the Lancer courts Tuesday.

Coach Jon Olson unleashed the East Union High softball team Tuesday and Oakdale High suffered as the Lady Lancers romped to a 19-0 triumph at the Northgate Park complex. Sixteen locals went to bat in a big 11-run second inning. Sandy Cortez and Kim Beck led the EU attack with perfect 4-for-4’s and five runs batted in each.

Junior Kim Sloan tossed a three-hitter and pounded out two hits to lead the Manteca High softball team to a 6-0 VOL triumph over host Sonora High Thursday afternoon. Jill Gleaves slapped a two-out triple in the fourth inning.

Manteca High pitcher Eric Hill went the distance, allowed just five hits, struck out six and allowed only two earned runs. He also hit a double, but four Buffalo errors, including a pair of costly ones with two outs, gave Sonora High a 5-3 VOL win yesterday on the Buffalo diamond.

Friday afternoon, the Oakdale High baseball team gave East Union High too many second chances and the Lancers took advantage of them to record a relatively easy 8-0 win on the Lancer diamond. EU senior Frank Gonzales hurled his second straight four-hit victory. He struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter until the final inning.

20 years ago: March 26, 1997 – East Union Highs’ Jennifer Lewallen struck out 12 batters and pitched a 7-0 win over Sierra High in a VOL softball opener yesterday. Michelle Phillips had three hits and scored twice, while Jennifer Hensley also collected three hits, including a double, for the Lady Lancers.

Both the East Union High boys and girls swim teams took wins against Franklin High on Tuesday. The Lancer boy s had a 112-37 decision, while the unbeaten Lady Lancers prevailed, 131-35. Arthur Tolbert (200 free and 100 back), Tanner Lipsett (200 IM and 100 breast) and Tyson Eckerle (50 and 100 free) were each double winners. Double winners for the EU girls were Heather Jenkins (200 IM and 100 fly) and Silke Bradford (50 free and 100 back).

The unbeaten Manteca High girls swim team cruised by Sonora High 109-61. Double winners for the Lady Buffs were Jessica Houck (200 free and 500 free) and Sonia Tuchtenhagen (200 IM and 100 fly).

The Manteca High tennis team squeaked out an 8-7 win over Tracy High as the doubles teams of Kyle Dei Rossi-Kabir Bhan and Doug Bruchs- Scott Doggett won both their matches.

The Sierra High baseball team gave up three runs in the seventh inning but still came out on top of an 8-7 score Wednesday at Oakdale High. Daniel Almeida had two hits and drove in three runs for the T’wolves.

J. R. Becko shot a 72 for Manteca High, Stan Mathews had a 73 for East Union High and Jack Arizcuren tallied an 84 for Sierra High as the Buffaloes won the VOL 18-hole golf tournament with a 399 team score yesterday at the Manteca Park course.

Trailing by three runs early in the game, the East Union High baseball team rallied to edge West High 6-5 at Agostini Field on Thursday. James Hardcastle tripled and later scored what proved to be the winning run for the Lancers.

10 years ago: March 28, 2007 – Bouncing back from a terrible performance last week, the East Union High soccer team thoroughly dominated visiting Ceres High 5-1 in VOL action on Tuesday. Julie Lennert led a balanced attack with two goals. Ashley McGuiness, Kylie Dalton and Gabby Wisecarver each netted a goal for EU. The Lancers outshot the Bulldogs 23-2 in the match.

It was a productive day for the Manteca High swimming teams Tuesday as both the boys’ and the girls’ teams took home victories over Weston Ranch High. The Buffalo girls won142-20 on the strength of 11 first-place finishes. Holly Whipple took a pair of firsts (200 IM and 400 free) and was a part of the winning 400 meter free relay team. Davina Bennett was also a double winner (50 free and 100 breast). The Buffalo boys finished the day with a 101-36 win as Anthony Mello led with firsts in the 100 breast and the 50 free, while Mark Guerra matched that by topping the 100 fly and 200 IM. Adrian Fuentes also took top honors in two events (200 free and 100 free).

The Manteca High tennis team tacked up its fourth 15-0 win in five outings Tuesday, this time taking down Oakdale High.

Kim Herrera scored three goals to help the Manteca High soccer team to a comfortable 7-0 win over Central Valley High. Amanda Porter scored twice while Thalya Bobadilla and Jen Dickman had scoring shots to round out the Buffalo offense.

Stephanie Teunissen waited until the final minute to seal a 2-1 soccer win for the Sierra High booters over host Oakdale High on Tuesday. Nicole Vanni had netted the first Timberwolf goal.

Host East Union High reeled off five unanswered runs, punctuated by Wade Morten’s two-RBI single in the sixth inning to highlight a 5-3 VOL win over rival Manteca High Friday at Agostini Field. The Lancers (3-6 overall) also snapped a five-game losing skid. Winning pitcher Seth Morten helped himself with a 2-for-4 effort from the plate, where he scored twice and poled out a run-scoring double in the fifth to spark EU’s come-from-behind charge. Three MHS pitchers gave up 10 walks in the game.

After busting out of the gate with a three-run first inning, it took an additional late-inning three-spot for Sierra High to secure a 7-5 victory over host Weston Ranch High in VOL baseball action. Andrew Gabriel had a two-run triple for the winners.