When a team gets punched in the mouth, its response reveals everything.
Some falter. Others punch back.
Manteca baseball left no doubt about which it would be.
In the second game of a three-game series against crosstown rival East Union, sophomore Brody Carabello blasted a leadoff home run, jump-starting a five-run first inning that fueled a 14-2 rout on the road Thursday, April 23.
“We played much better,” coach Mark Ruiz said. “The first inning went our way this time, which was nice. I thought we hit the ball very well today, and Jeremy, of course, threw another amazing game.”
Three days earlier, East Union landed the first blow, rolling to an 11-2 win behind a seven-run first inning.
Now it all comes down to 4 p.m. Friday, April 24, at Manteca, where city bragging rights and second place in the Valley Oak League will be decided.
“Monday we got killed,” junior Nate Slikker said. “They flat-out played better than us, but we punched back. Now it’s about carrying that same mentality. We really want this. With so many seniors, it means something to do it for them, for our team and for Manteca.”
On the mound, senior Jeremy Cross earned his eighth win, tossing a complete game with nine strikeouts while allowing just one earned run to lower his ERA to 1.20 over 46 2/3 innings.
“In my eyes, he’s pitcher of the year,” Ruiz said.
Behind him, Manteca’s offense erupted early, batting through the entire lineup in the first inning on its way to 17 hits.
Carabello’s leadoff homer also jump-started his day as he went 3-for-3 with two walks and one RBI, while Slikker blasted a three-run shot in the fifth inning to cap a 3-for-5 performance with four RBIs.
“I just wanted to make some noise,” Carabello said. “We came out flat last game, so I wanted to start this one off hot.”
For East Union, two multi-sport athletes provided the offense, with school all-time single-season rushing touchdown leader Brayden Camara launching a home run and UC Davis football commit Jackson Fay finishing 2-for-3.
“They’re going to come out fighting,” Ruiz said. “We’ve both had our turn beating up on each other, one game apiece. Now it all comes down to this.”
‘When he goes, we go’
Nothing says ready for the moment like what Carabello did a year ago.
Called up to varsity with four games left in the regular season, he delivered right away. He went 4-for-4 with three RBIs in his first game against Tokay on April 15, 2025, then followed with a 2-for-3 game.
Then came the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoff opener.
Against Rio Americano, Carabello went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and launched the first home run of his career in a 7-1 win.
“He’s a great hitter, good defender,” Ruiz said. “He does the little things to make himself successful.”
One of those was adjusting to being on scouting reports.
There were bumps along the way. There were bruises, too.
Still, there is a reason he leads off.
“He is always progressing,” Ruiz said. “He is never complacent. He sets the tone for us. When he goes, we go as a team.”
Carabello added, “I feel like the home run brought the energy for the whole team. That’s what helped us secure the game and move on tomorrow with the series tied.”
‘It is just a child’s game’
Expectations have followed Slikker everywhere he has gone.
Even before high school, his size stood out. At 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, there were already signs of his two-way power.
As a freshman, he backed it up. He went 8-3 with a 1.49 ERA, struck out 67 over 56 1/3 innings and drove in 33 runs while batting .348.
It did not take long for coaches and media to view him as a next-level prospect.
“He’s backed up the expectations,” Ruiz said. “His mentality is always right.”
For Slikker, it starts with one thing — having fun.
“You always want to try your hardest to meet expectations,” Slikker said. “At the end of the day, you just have to sit back, relax and realize it is just a child’s game.”
When he does, the power shows up.
In the first inning, he drove one to deep center that missed leaving the yard by only a few feet.
He came right back with a single in the second, a home run in the fifth and a deep RBI double to left in the seventh.
“He’s a leader on our team,” Ruiz said. “He does whatever we ask of him. He hasn’t pitched as much this season because we haven’t needed him to, but when he comes in to close, he is always ready. We were really hurting at shortstop, and he stepped in and filled that void.”
‘We want it’
It has been 10 years since Manteca finished ranked inside the state’s top 150.
This year, that will likely change.
Cross, like Carabello and Slikker, is part of the reason why.
After posting a 2.40 ERA over 43 2/3 innings last season, he has taken another step this year.
In both the second and third innings, he faced bases-loaded jams and escaped both.
“He’s not afraid to get hit,” Ruiz said. “I can call any pitch at any time, and he will throw it. The command is always there.”
The same can be said for senior Devon Richardson.
After hitting .200 with eight RBIs in 25 at-bats last season, Richardson has taken a step forward.
Batting .473, he picked up his 32nd RBI in the first inning, which ranks third in the Sac-Joaquin Section.
“No matter what, he is always positive,” Ruiz said. “The guys follow him. His work ethic is great, and it is paying off this year as he has become a leader on this team.”
So why is this the year Manteca likely returns to the state’s top 150?
The same can be said for the other 14 players on the roster.
Everyone wants to get better, but more importantly, they want to do whatever it takes to help Manteca win.
“Last year, we had a lot of games where we were right there,” Slikker said. “It felt like we just didn’t want it enough. This year, we do. We want this series, and we want more.”
This article originally appeared on The Record: Manteca baseball bounces back, sets up East Union rivalry rubber match
Reporting by Dylan Ackermann, The Stockton Record / The Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
