The Manteca Buffaloes put together a complete performance on senior day Wednesday afternoon, defeating visiting East Union 6-2 and clinching a Sac-Joaquin Section Division playoff berth in the process.
“I’m so excited for this team that’s battled all year,” Manteca coach Mark Ruiz said. “Clinching a playoff spot is huge for them and a product of putting the time in to get better each and every day.”
Much like the opening game of the series on Monday, Manteca (11-6, 19-7) found itself playing from behind early against a Lancer team fighting to earn an at-large bid into the postseason. After pitching around trouble in the first two innings, Manteca starting pitcher Jeremy Cross allowed a two-out triple to East Union first baseman Joe Alvarez that plated Efren Diaz and Peyton Heath to put the Lancers up 2-0.
The Buffs were able to scratch a run back against East Union (8-9, 14-13) ace Blake Mount in the bottom of the third after a two-out RBI base hit from center fielder Chris Chavez (two hits, one run scored, two runs batted in). Then in the fourth inning, sophomore shortstop Nate Slikker (two hits, two runs scored, two runs batted in) led off with a base hit before being bunted over by cleanup hitter Cameron Jimenez. After an infield single from Preston Smith advanced him to third, Slikker would come in to score with two outs on a balk by Mount to tie the game 2-2.
“Everyone 1-17 on this team can and will bunt,” Ruiz said. “We’re not scared to bunt any one of them, and Cam did a great job getting one down that helped us tie the game and swing momentum to our side.”
Manteca would build on that momentum and ultimately break the game open against Mount who’s pitch count was rising entering the fifth inning. Junior Noah Navarro started the inning with a double to right before advancing to third on a fielding error. Then, in perhaps the biggest at-bat of the game, Chavez failed to get down multiple bunt attempts before swinging away and lining a base hit into left field to put the Buffs up for good. Slikker followed with an RBI double himself plating Brody Carabello. Jiminez then recorded an RBI on a groundout to third base, before senior Edward Anthony capped off the rally with a base hit to left to make it 6-2 Manteca.
“We knew today was going to be an intense matchup against our cross-town rivals,” Slikker said. “Manteca baseball is working counts, staying alive and taking advantage of mistakes, and I think you saw us do that with the rally in the fifth.”
Cross was able to get through four innings of four hit baseball on the mound for the Buffs, striking out two while pitching to contact and letting the Manteca defense make superb plays behind him.
For the second straight game, Ruiz turned to sophomore Jimmy Burns to keep his team in the game in relief. For the second straight game, Burns did just that, coming on in the fifth and allowing no runs on no hits while striking out one over three innings of work.
“I knew going into today there was a really good chance I would come in to finish things,” Burns said. “Jeremy did a great job keeping us in the game, and I was just happy to be able to get out there and battle with my teammates and win a really big game for us.”
For East Union, Wednesday’s loss means there is still work to do to secure an at-large bid in the playoffs. They’ll look to do that on senior day back at home on Friday afternoon.
“We just didn’t play very well today,” Lancers coach Dan Bauer said. “We didn’t make enough plays, and if our guys want to keep playing baseball we’re going to have to be better on Friday.”
First pitch in the rubber match of the series will take place Friday at 4 p.m. at Agostini field.
