Erin Arevalo, Toby Fox and Nigel Malone (from left) are off to big all star games this weekend.

illustrations by Ike Dodson/Sun Post

Baseball 

            Between cross-town rivalries, tight Valley Oak League contests and a three-team slug out for the final two seeds from the VOL into the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs, it was a three-way war between Manteca’s high school baseball teams this season.

            When the dust settled, Manteca and Sierra had split a two-game series while East Union swept both Manteca and Sierra. Manteca and East Union advanced to the postseason, eventually finishing with runner-up honors in the division IV championships.

            So today, June 20, when graduates from all three teams join forces on the North squad for the 18th Annual High School All-Star Baseball Classic at the University of the Pacific, the rivalries are on hold.

            East Union alumnus Teddy Anderson and Ryan Dawson will see their first action since a May 26 loss to Oakdale in the SJS finals at Sacramento City College. The two were a big part of a late season run that included six straight wins. The last three came against the Pioneer Valley League and Capital Valley Conference champions.

            Anderson hit .375 this season, with six home runs and 27 RBIs while Dawson batted .357 with 20 runs and 18 walks.

            The two will join Manteca’s standout hurler, Toby Fox, hard-hitting Tim Larson and a savvy Kevin Miller, who led the team into the postseason before a narrow loss to Bear River.

            Fox maintained a 2.83 ERA through 42 innings, with 42 strikeouts and a 4-2 decision tally. He also hit .395 with 32 hits and showed patience with 19 walks while Larson managed a .379 average with a team-high 24 RBIs. Miller plated 18 runs knocked in 15 more for the Buffs.

            Slugger Andrew Gabriel and all-around standout Mike Garcia will represent Sierra at the game. Gabriel hit .444 with 36 hits, a pair of triples and three bombs while Garcia hit .384 with 29 RBIs. Garcia also tossed 22 innings with a 3.5 ERA and picked up three saves.

            The seven locals will join players from 12 other schools to represent the North team, including San Joaquin Athletic Association MVP, Stevie Ramos of Tracy.

            The game will kick off after softball’s opening ceremonies, with an expected start time of 6:30 p.m. at Klein Family Field. Tickets are $5 for adults while children 10 and under receive free admission.

Softball

            After two-straight trips to the Sac-Joaquin Section finals resulted in back-to-back runner-up finishes, high school accolades seemed to fade into the past for East Union graduates Erin Arevalo and Brionna Goulart.

            But today, June 20th, the pair will get one last shot against the best of the SJS in the 18th Annual High School All-Star Softball Classic at the University of the Pacific.

            The pair will join five other locals and players from 20 total teams in a North vs. South contest that will feature the Central Valley’s best on the dusty diamond.

            University of Georgia-bound Arevalo, California’s all-time strikeout leader, fanned 492 batters this season en route to a .216 ERA and 26-6 win/loss ratio. She also hit .318 with 16 RBIs, three triples and two home runs. Goulart batted .319 with 13 runs and six stolen bases as well.

The two will head up the North squad and team up with Sierra’s Marissa Olmo, Breann McGraw and Megan Anderson, who led the T’wolves to a playoff berth this season.

            Anderson led the sharp hitting cast with a .390 average, seven doubles and four home runs. Mayville State University-bound Olmo batted .343 with 24 hits and 10 RBIs. McGraw hit .377 and was the team ace with a 1.885 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 156 innings.

            The East Union-Sierra tandem will face Manteca standouts Marissa Navarro and Rebecca Moreno on the South squad. Sacramento State-bound Navarro hit .347 with 26 hits, 16 runs and three triples while Moreno slugged to a .419 average with 29 RBIs and 31 hits.

            The game will begin after opening ceremonies scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start at UOP's Simoni Field. Tickets are $5 for adults while children 10 and under are permitted to enter free of charge.

Football 

            If history has any influence, than the North squad should have quite the advantage when the 35th annual Lions All-Star Football Classic kicks off at the University of the Pacific’s Stagg Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 21.

            Last year Manteca High graduate Andre Patterson exploded for 82 yards on 11 rushes, ran a touchdown, threw for a touchdown and kicked two extra points en route to a 16-12 North win, bringing the series to a dominating 20-13-1.

            Patterson, the game MVP, added more proof to the fact that Manteca’s success at the University of the Pacific isn’t limited to section title games.

            The 2005 and 2006 Sac-Joaquin Section champion Buffaloes have been a big part of five straight North squad wins, and will bring three Buffs to the table this year in lineback/tight end Nick Ortiz, lineman Stewart Strong and lineman Andy Dai.

            The three led Manteca to an SJS semi-final appearance in 2007, before the team succumbed to a surprising 40-20 defeat at the hands of host Whitney. Ortiz led the Buffs in tackles (105), sacks (six) and receiving (33 catches for 532 yards and three touchdowns).

            Sierra’s speedy wide receiver/defensive back Nigel Malone will also play on the North after a stellar season with the Timberwolves. Malone caught 52 passes for 707 yards and six touchdowns and intercepted eight passes — two that were returned for scores.

            The local four will join players from Calaveras to Tracy under the tutelage of North coach, Mark Stroup (Tracy), who led his team to a 7-4 season and SJS Division I playoff berth.

            The South squad will be coached by Beyer coach Doug Severe.

            Tickets are $10 for adults while children 6-and-under receive free admission.