Pitch in the right direction: Torres to captain softball

By BRYSON McMICHAEL
The Tower

Manteca High School’s softball team will swing for the fences this season.

The Buffaloes, who only return two seniors from their 2023 team, look to senior captain Nayellys Torres to lead the charge. Torres, the starting pitcher for the Buffaloes, verbally committed to Dominican University last November after helping the Buffaloes to a 17-9 season.

While dominating on the mound, Torres also played a role on the offensive side, batting 12 for 65 with 12 RBIs, the fifth-best total on the team.

“I feel like our underclassmen are really going to develop more and step up this year,” Torres said. “Our big (goal) is just to win league this season. Our league is very balanced this year, which I think is going to be good this year.”

Manteca has a stacked schedule.

In addition to playing Central Catholic and Oakdale in the Valley Oak League, the Buffaloes will test themselves with games against out-of-conference foes Casa Grande and Vintage.

Torres believes practice and a positive mindset will help carry the Buffaloes through.

“I feel like we all go into practice working hard and having a positive mindset,” Torres said, “and keeping our attitudes positive.”

The pressure doesn’t fall on Torres’ shoulders alone. She is joined by a small but strong returning cast, including infielder Riley Ward, pitcher/outfielder Isabel Tonna, and catcher Lauren Moncada.

With a limited role on last year’s team, Ward looks to take a leap on this year’s team after only logging 19 at-bats and four innings pitched.

Tonna, who was predominantly a pitcher on last year’s team, looks to take an even bigger role this year. Tonna pitched 58 innings and had 16 at-bats in her freshman campaign, and Lauren Moncada played a huge defensive role in last years’ team catching for the Buffaloes and having 166 put-outs.

“Some of our returners like Riley Ward and (Tonna) really stepped up as leaders and are helping me this year,” Torres said.

The Buffaloes will also turn to a new crop of players as they bring up seven freshmen to the varsity roster, as well as six sophomores. Assistant coach Emmit Gause sees a lot of promise in the young crop of players, especially those that played last spring and helped the Buffalos to the second round of the postseason.

“Well, the great thing about having a young team is the fact that, you know, a young team last year, a lot of those girls matured,” Gause said. “They got older, they got stronger, they got a full year of playing experience. So, they've gotten a lot better.”

Manteca opens the season with an away game at Ripon, which finished the2023 season with a 14-5 overall record, beating Manteca in their matchup.