Manteca High enjoyed playing under the lights Thursday at Lathrop's Islanders Field.
In the non-league affair against Ceres, the Buffaloes pounded out 14 hits while posting crooked numbers early on en route to an 18-4 victory in five innings.
"We've been waiting to have a big (offensive) game like this," said Manteca coach Mark Ruiz. "A lot of our guys got quality at-bats."
In particular, sophomore catcher Zach Todd and senior outfielder Nathan Gutierrez, who went 3 for 3 with four RBI.
Todd also went 3 for 3, ripping a double and triple with four RBI.
He got Manteca (5-3) going in the first inning by plating Christian Tonna, who reached base on an error, by slicing a two bagger to right for the first run.
Gutierrez, who singled, later came home on Sonny Elder's sacrifice fly to right.
The Bulldogs (3-6) got one run back in the second. Josh Pernetti drew a lead-off walk. He swiped second, advancing to third on a throwing error. Pernetti scored the unearned run on an errant pick-off play at second.
The Buffaloes tacked on 11 runs in the bottom half of the frame to all but put the game out of reach, given that ace hurler Ryan Ward was in control — he allowed three hits with only one of the four runs by Ceres being earned.
In addition, Ward fanned 11 while getting the win.
Manteca nearly batted around twice, sending 16 batters to the plate in that second inning. Rafael Diaz delivered on a two-run triple while Gutierrez added to his tally with a three-run double.
Triples by Todd, who cleared the bases, and Austin Kovacs, who had an RBI with his three bagger, propelled the Buffaloes' five-run third.
Manteca led 18-2, allowing a pair of unearned runs in the fourth.
Ward, meanwhile, closed out the game by registering five of the final six out via strikeouts.
"It's good to have a big lead — you can just go out there a relax," he said, throwing exclusively fastballs towards the end.
Junior centerfielder Sonny Elder, in addition, collected a pair of hits for Manteca with two RBI while junior left fielder Mikey Elder also had two hits and an RBI.

Junior varsity
Manteca 11, Ceres 5
The Buffaloes erupted for nine runs in the second innings during the non-league game against the Bulldogs.
Manteca racked 14 hits while taking advantage of four Ceres' errors.