LATHROP — Offense was the Manteca High softball team’s best defense in Friday’s 13-4 Valley Oak League win against Lathrop.
The Buffaloes (4-3, 7-6 overall) overcame five errors by rapping out 20 hits and had five different players contribute at least three knocks.
First-year varsity Lathrop answered Manteca’s first-inning run with one of its own, but Manteca strung together four-run rallies in the second and seventh innings to put the game out of reach.
“We put up a lot of runs, but we need a lot of work especially on defense,” Manteca coach Todd Hardcastle said. “We’re still booting the ball around too much, and we’ve been moving girls around to see where they fit. We shouldn’t have to do that that this far into the season.”
Melissa Bond led the Buffaloes’ hit parade, going 4 for 4 with four RBIs. Three of those runs were driven in by a homer in the sixth inning that stretched their lead to 9-2.
Starting pitcher Mariah Navarro also belted a homer, finishing 3 for 5 with three runs. Chellsee Lee, Dallas Mould and Chandler Rose were each also 3 for 5.
Mari Duenas led Lathrop with two runs in a 3-for-4 effort.
Navarro struck out six and gave up seven hits in her complete game from the pitcher’s circle.
Manteca will next play host to Sierra Monday. With both teams at 4-3, their final contest in the first round of the VOL has postseason implications as they are tied with Ceres for third place. The top three teams in the conference advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs.
Raileen Romo finished 4 for 5 with two doubles, and Nicole Washington was 3 for 4 and went for two bags on all of her hits.
Reianna Dominguez was also 3 for 4, Lashana Lyas was 2 for 4 with a double, and Serena Hernandez and Miranda Holmes were each 2 for 5 with two RBIs.
Hernandez pitched the five-inning complete game, struking out four, walking three and hitting one batter in a two-hitter.
Weston Ranch begins a busy four-game week Monday at home against East Union.
The Buffaloes (4-3, 7-6 overall) overcame five errors by rapping out 20 hits and had five different players contribute at least three knocks.
First-year varsity Lathrop answered Manteca’s first-inning run with one of its own, but Manteca strung together four-run rallies in the second and seventh innings to put the game out of reach.
“We put up a lot of runs, but we need a lot of work especially on defense,” Manteca coach Todd Hardcastle said. “We’re still booting the ball around too much, and we’ve been moving girls around to see where they fit. We shouldn’t have to do that that this far into the season.”
Melissa Bond led the Buffaloes’ hit parade, going 4 for 4 with four RBIs. Three of those runs were driven in by a homer in the sixth inning that stretched their lead to 9-2.
Starting pitcher Mariah Navarro also belted a homer, finishing 3 for 5 with three runs. Chellsee Lee, Dallas Mould and Chandler Rose were each also 3 for 5.
Mari Duenas led Lathrop with two runs in a 3-for-4 effort.
Navarro struck out six and gave up seven hits in her complete game from the pitcher’s circle.
Manteca will next play host to Sierra Monday. With both teams at 4-3, their final contest in the first round of the VOL has postseason implications as they are tied with Ceres for third place. The top three teams in the conference advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs.
Weston Ranch 16, Central Valley 1
CERES — The Cougars (2-5, 6-10) wasted little time in getting the rout started, plating five runs in the top of the first and five more in the fourth to put the mercy rule in play.Raileen Romo finished 4 for 5 with two doubles, and Nicole Washington was 3 for 4 and went for two bags on all of her hits.
Reianna Dominguez was also 3 for 4, Lashana Lyas was 2 for 4 with a double, and Serena Hernandez and Miranda Holmes were each 2 for 5 with two RBIs.
Hernandez pitched the five-inning complete game, struking out four, walking three and hitting one batter in a two-hitter.
Weston Ranch begins a busy four-game week Monday at home against East Union.
— Jonamar Jacinto
