Seventy years ago, on September 8, 1940, Manteca’s Merchants were bid a dramatic farewell in the final Central League playoff. In a game that was booked as the playoff to determine the second half winner and predicted to be a hotly-contested battle throughout, it turned out to be nothing short of a farce. The final score was Solari’s Inn 17, Manteca 1. The Solarians pounded Bill Enders, Lentz Greenhalgh and Pete Evenson before Manager Harold Garvine threw in the sponge and it was agreed to call the game at the end of the seventh inning.
In other sports stories from the Bulletin files:
70 years ago: September 12, 1940 - One week from tomorrow night the rampaging Manteca High Buffaloes will be led upon the Modesto Junior College field to clash with Modesto High and the local coaching staff, consisting of Headman Larry Siemering and assistants Stan Hawkins and Rico Bianchi, are hard at work rounding their pigskinners into shape. The Buffaloes were hard hit by graduation last June when practically all of last year’s undefeated squad was taken. Only holdovers from last year’s potent varsity that saw much action are Lou Bronzan, half, and Bob Lynch, tackle.
60 years ago: September 14, 1950 - Tomorrow night Manteca High will line up for the kickoff in Stockton’s Baxter Stadium in an effort to carry on where last year’s team left off. The chance for an upset over the Stockton College Colts looks very dim. However, if the boys play a brand of ball they are capable of, then an upset can be in the making. Much will depend on the line opening holes for our small backs who have the ability to run once they are in the secondary. Such backs as Jim Martin, Gene Peterson and Mariano Valenzuela can lower the boom if the occasion should call for such action.
50 years ago: September 15, 1960 - Manteca’s first semi-pro baseball team in 10 years, the Manteca Merchants, closed out a successful season last Sunday by downing the Stockton Merchants 7-4. The locals trailed by a run going into the top of the ninth inning but three walks, an error, a double and a single pulled the contest out of the fire. Jerry Guibor went all the way on the hill for the Merchants to pick up the win. Guibor scattered seven hits in picking up the victory. Pat Lyions and Larry Lusk led the locals at the plate.
Head Coach Phil Harmon unveils his 1960 Manteca High football squad tomorrow night in Tracy when the locals battle the Tracy High Bulldogs in a non-league encounter. Oddsmakers rate the Buffaloes a solid one-touchdown choice. Manteca’s favoritism stems from the fact that the Buffs will start eight lettermen in the starting eleven, while the Bulldogs lost eight out of 11 starters via the graduation route.
40 years ago: September 9, 1970 - East Union High’s varsity teams have been hurt by injuries year after year in their quest for victory. If the first week of their 1970 workouts is any indication of what may be coming, the Lancers may be heading for the same pitfall. In their inter-squad drills held Thursday and Friday of last week, two players were hurt and lost for the season, One of the key players in East Union’s hopes for success was lost due to scrimmage injuries on Thursday as 160-pound lineman Tom Nolan was operated on Saturday for a painful knee injury. The second Lancer injury victim was 230-pound lineman Lester Brock. The stocky junior suffered a broken leg in Friday’s practice and was sent immediately to Manteca Hospital.
The pad-popping continues at the Manteca High training camp as the prep footballers warm up for tomorrow’s closed scrimmage with Galt High. Varsity head coach Walker Vick is still plagued with absenteeism.
30 years ago: September 12, 1980 - Tracy High, striking with lightning-like quickness and thunderous power, scored a pair of touchdowns in the first four minutes of play and went on to post an easy 47-12 victory over host Manteca High before a near-capacity crowd at Guss Schmiedt Field Friday night. The triumph enabled Tracy to whittle away at Manteca’s lead in the all-time series; the Buffaloes own a 29-26-3 edge after 58 meetings. Buff quarterback Gerald Capps tossed a five-yard pass to Pat Schimke for the first local score and Brian Sallee returned a Tracy kickoff 97 yards for another Manteca touchdown. Brian Hatfield was the leading MHS rusher with 68 yards on five carries.
A fourth-quarter East Union High fumble paved the way for Atwater High to take a season-opening 10-7 victory over the Lancers last Friday evening in Atwater. The bobble at the EU 36 set up a Falcon field goal five plays later. The lone Lancer touchdown came on a fourth-quarter halfback pass from James Mackey to John Payan from the seven-yard line. Chris Del Prato kicked the extra point. Lance Miller passed for 133 yards on four completions for the local eleven, while Mackey in this varsity debut, led the Lancer rushers with 101 yards on 24 carries.
Errors of an unforced variety proved too costly for the Manteca High tennis team yesterday in its 1980 non-league debut. The Lady Buffaloes suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of host Tracy High in the local club’s final tuneup prior to the start of Valley Oak League play Thursday . Diane Drury got the only MHS win.
East Union High’s William Windham streaked to a first-place finish but it wasn’t enough to aid his team in the final point standings as the Lancers dropped a 21-36 decision to Bret Harte High in cross country action last Thursday on the EU home course at Caswell State Park. EU’s Julie Johnson dominated the girls’ race with a time of 12:56.
East Union High’s tennis team, hampered somewhat by a shortage of seasoned players, dropped a close 8-7 decision to Sonora High last Thursday in the VOL opener for both teams at the EU courts. Double winners for the Lady Lancers were Sherri Reynolds and Sherrie Massengill in singles action, while the duo of Gina Barroga and Jen Padron won twice.
