In the second inning Tuesday night, visiting Manteca got four runs across the plate on three consecutive pitches and never looked back in a 17-5 five-inning Valley Oak League softball win over East Union.
“That’s kind of what this offense can do,” Buffaloes coach Josh Farris said. “They can provide that kind of spark.
“One through nine in our lineup are just deadly. They all offer something different, and I thought there were some hard-hit balls. Kudos to the girls for a 17-run game as it takes a lot of hits to do that.”
Jocelyn Baptist (2 for 4, two RBI, two runs) singled to lead off the second inning for Manteca (1-1 VOL, 6-2 overall). Sienna Lowery walked to bring Ayva Wilkins (3 for 4, RBI, two runs) up to bat. Wilkins hit a first-pitch single and plated Baptist. Na’ima Calderon (2 for 3, two RBI) singled the next pitch up the left-field line, scoring Lowery. Riley Ward (2 for 4, four RBI, two runs, double) doubled on the following pitch, scoring Wilkins and Calderon.
“At the batting cages yesterday, I was thinking that I needed to change something, because I had not been hitting very well,” Calderon said. “So I changed my batting stance, and it really helped in my timing, and from there it just all clicked.”
Ward belted in two more runs in the seven-run third, plating Wilkins and Calderon who led off the frame with singles.
“I was just going up to the plate looking inside,” Ward said. “That is my favorite pitch to hit.
“They were throwing it there, and I just saw it and hit it.”
The Buffaloes totaled 14 hits. Lauren Moncada (2 for 4, three runs), Maleiah Garza (2 for 5, two RBI) and Marissa San Nicolas (three runs, two RBI) rounded out the Manteca attack.
Outstanding defensive plays by Buffaloes shortstop Lowery and third baseman Garza in the fifth inning helped keep the Lancers (1-1, 3-6) off the board and end the game via the mercy rule.
“We work a ton on defense,” Farris said. “And we know defense travels, and we are a pretty dominant offensive team, but with the plays the made right there in a 12-run game, I couldn’t be prouder of them.
“Especially with the time pushing 8:30 at night we wanted to make sure we finished the deal.”
East Union got all of its runs in the third inning, highlighted by Lily Pickering’s two-run blast, scoring Jacey Jauregi (2 for 3, run). Outside of their four-hit third inning, the Lancers managed just three hits the rest of the way.
“I think we came out a little flat to start,” East Union coach Dylan DeBrouwer said. “It took a while to get the bats going and then unfortunately we just didn’t have an answer for them defensively.
“It was a tough loss but we have to get back to the drawing board and come out ready to play Thursday.”
On Thursday, the Lancers host Central Catholic at 6:30 p.m. and at 4 p.m. Manteca hosts Sierra.
