Tracy Press

The Tracy High softball team beat Bear Creek 12-1 tonight after a nine-run fourth inning capped by a grand slam.

Nikki Moreno’s bases-loaded home run was just the bonus in Tracy’s nine-run fourth inning tonight in a 12-1 win over Bear Creek at the Tracy Sports Complex.

By that time, the Lady Bulldogs had already had a five-run rally with base hits from Sara Amorello, Beth Worthington, Melissa Turney and Eleni Leles. Worthington and Leles each drove in two, and Amorello also recorded an RBI.

Moreno saw the 3-1 pitch right in the middle of her strike zone and sent it over the left-field fence for her sixth home run of the season.

“This one I saw coming all the way,” she said.

The game ended after 4½ innings on the 10-run mercy rule, starting off Tracy’s home-field play in the San Joaquin Athletic Association. Tracy is at 2-0 in the SJAA and 11-6 overall.

“We’re hitting the ball hard and playing good defense,” coach Greg Smith said. “We’re really on a roll.”

Tracy took the lead early as the Bulldogs got the hits and also got on base through walks, though they left seven runners on base in the first three innings. They scored when Moreno drove in two in the second inning, and again in the third when Melissa Turney hit a single up the middle to drive in Amorello.

(S) Tracy 30, Bear Creek 4

Sophomore coach Geriann McGee said she had to remind her team that such lopsided games aren’t good for the winning teams either, when players become lackadaisical and forget about the effort they need to put up to win.

But she also had a chance to move players around in the field, which turned out to be a good opportunity for players who want to see if they could do well in new position. Mariah Taloa, who went 3-for-5 and drove in three Tracy runs, moved from the outfield and did well as catcher, McGee said.

The team also got hits from just about everyone on the roster, including three hits each from Taylor Slabaugh, Stephanie Fisher, Taloa, Latoya Whiting, Madeline Geibig and Tee Gilbert. Slabaugh and Brianna Frymeyer hit home runs for their team.

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