El Capitan baseball beats Manteca in first game of section semifinal series
The El Capitan High baseball team’s late-season dominance continued Tuesday in the first game of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 semifinals.
The Gauchos’ 3-0 victory over Manteca has them one win from playing for a section title.
It was El Capitan’s 13th consecutive win and — remarkably — its seventh shutout in its last eight games.
Seventh-seeded El Capitan (24-7) jumped on the third-seeded Buffaloes early, taking a 2-0 lead after the first inning. The Gauchos extended their lead with another run in the top of the fifth inning.
That was more than enough for starting pitcher Matt McQuillen, who allowed no runs on six hits in six innings. The senior walked four and struck out three.
Sophomore Brennan Casey closed out the win, allowing one hit and striking out two Manteca batters.
The Gauchos have allowed just two runs in their last eight games.
El Capitan can close out the best-of-three series with a win at home at 4 p.m. Thursday. If Manteca (28-7) wins that game, there will be a game at 4 p.m. Friday at Manteca to determine who will go to the championship series.
Top-seeded Rio American and fifth-seeded Christian Brothers are playing in the other semifinal series.
The best-of-three section championship series will be played May 20-23.
This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 7:07 PM.
