Tracy Press

When San Joaquin Athletic Association and Tri-City Athletic League teams combined for a fundraiser tournament this week, Tracy High emerged a winner.

Tracy High’s Morgan Hayes lets it fly as she fires a pitch against West High in their crosstown softball game last week. During Tracy’s sweep in this week’s SJAA-TCAL tournament, Hayes pitched a perfect game and helped lead the Bulldogs at the plate. Photo by Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

“She pitched really well, and we hit the ball as a team really well,” coach Greg Smith said.

The varsity softball team from West High went 1-for-3 in the tournament, including three close matches and a game that West won after officials called the 10-run rule.

It’s the first year for the tournament, which raises money for breast cancer research and pits teams from the San Joaquin Athletic Association against teams from the Tri-City Athletic League.

Tournament organizer Kirk Klucznik, coach of the Bear Creek team, said the event raised about $3,800 for the St. Joseph’s Mobile Mammography unit. The total includes money raised at a dinner and raffle Tuesday, through sponsors and through donations from players’ families.

The event included 24 games, with each team playing four times. The SJAA teams came away with a 15-9 record against the TCAL squads.

Tracy 14, McNair 0

Hayes threw a perfect game Wednesday against the McNair Eagles as she faced 15 McNair batters and struck out 11 in a five-inning game.

“The other four were ground balls to Morgan,” coach Smith said, adding that Hayes also went 3-for-3 at the plate. Catcher Nikki Moreno also got three hits, including a long home-run over the left-field fence.

Bear Creek 3, West 2

After three scoreless innings, the Bruins put up three runs in the fourth and fifth innings. West came back in the sixth when Shannon Manchester got a base hit and ran home on an Elida Rubio triple. Rubio made it home on a sacrifice fly to left field by Arianna Welch, but it would be the last time anyone scored.

Tracy 5, Tokay 2

In the Bulldogs’ closest match of the week, the Tokay Tigers managed to keep the game tied until the fifth inning. That’s when Moreno started a two-out rally with a base hit. Samantha Fisher drove her home, and a couple of batters later, Katie Stutz drove in two runs with a base hit. Melissa Turney, who went 2-for-2 for the day, knocked in the Bulldogs’ fifth run.

West 12, Chavez 2

Rubio and Gina West led the Wolf Pack with big hits. Rubio had two RBIs on a double and a triple, and West went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs. Caitlyn Girard went two-for-four. West High pitcher J.C. Brown struck out seven Chavez batters over six innings and allowed three hits. The Wolf Pack scored in every inning, and officials called the game at the end of six after the team took a 10-run lead.

Lodi 2, West 0

West coach Steve Anastasio said that even though Lodi pitcher Tori Shephard limited the Wolf Pack to one hit, it was a well-played game, with good pitching on both sides and effective defense. West pitcher Brittaney Enterline allowed five hits. The team’s only hit went to Welch, who connected in the fourth but was left stranded on base.

Tracy 7, Edison 0

Hayes kept the Vikings to two hits and also led Tracy with three hits in five at-bats. The Bulldogs collected 14 hits in all over the course of the game. Stutz contributed three hits, including a double and a triple and both Turney and Eleni Leles went 2-for-3.

Tracy 10, Stagg 0

Moreno drove in seven of Tracy’s runs, including a three-run home run in the second inning. She followed that with a double in the third. Samantha Balanon went 3-for-4 including a double, and Sara Amorello was 3-for-3 at the plate. Hayes struck out six Stagg batters in five innings and allowed only two hits.

Lincoln 7, West 6

West batters came out strong in the first inning after Rubio walked, Girard hit a single and Welch slammed a triple to right field. Catcher Jamie Costa drove in Welch, and the Pack kept a comfortable lead for the next three innings. Both teams scored in the second and third, and Lincoln scored big in the fifth inning to tie the score at 6-6.

West tried to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Rubio got a base hit with Tishanti Misco on base, but Misco was thrown out on a close play at the plate. West’s attempt to pick off a Lincoln runner at third base failed in the top of the seventh and allowed Lincoln the go-ahead run.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/Hide comments