Tracy Press

Tokay ends the perfect TCAL record of the West softball team with an eighth-inning home run.

West High’s softball team worked short hits and scrambled around the bases to come from behind Thursday at home against Tokay, but the Tigers managed one more home run in the eighth inning to claim the 4-3 win.

The loss puts the Wolf Pack at 3-1 in the Tri-City Athletic League and 11-10 overall.

West's players knew going into Thursday’s game that it would be one of their toughest matches for the season.

West coach Steve Anastasio said afterward that West and Tokay are among three teams vying for first place in TCAL. The other is St. Mary’s, which West plays Tuesday.

“If we beat St. Mary’s, we’re tied again (in the league standings),” he said. “We just have to make it happen.”

Tokay relied on the big hits to pull ahead. With two out and a runner on base in the fourth inning, Tokay catcher Michele Poteet hit one over the left-field fence to make the score 2-0.

West batters put the pressure on in the sixth inning when Gina West led off with a base hit and Brie Cardoza moved her forward on a bunt, outrunning the throw to first. Cherie DeJesus drove in West on a shot to left field, and in a close play at the plate, Cardoza scored on Jamie Costa’s bunt.

Tokay’s first baseman got the ball back to home plate fast enough, but Cardoza slid around the side of Tokay’s catcher and touched the plate with her hand to tie the score.

Cardoza said afterward that she knew the Tigers’ fielders were quick enough to make the play at home, and she sprinted from third prepared for a play at the plate.

“I just knew I had to get around the tag,” she said.

West scored once more when Ashley Cox hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in DeJesus and put West in the lead.

Tokay pitcher Josie Hull led off the seventh for her team with a base hit to right field, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and came home on Lauren Rivers’ high bouncing ball up the middle to tie the score.

Tokay coach Rick Vollstedt said by that time it was clear that Hull would try to score at her first opportunity.

“I couldn’t have held her back if I wanted to,” he said. “Scoring that run was huge.”

Tokay scored the go-ahead run when Becka Schneider led off the eighth inning with a deep shot over the left field fence.

(S) West 9, Tokay 0

West pitcher Andi Anderson gave up four hits, but she wasn’t thrown off a three-game streak in which she has struck out 34 batters in 21 innings, including 12 Tokay batters in seven innings Thursday.

Thursday’s game at West High was her third in row with 10 or more strikeouts, and she has given up one earned run and eight hits in those three games.

Brianna May drove in two Wolf Pack runs with a double in the second inning, Nicole Ricobono knocked in two more with a double in the third and Samantha Source drove in another with a double in the sixth.

(S) Tracy 4, Lodi 1

Stephanie Fisher threw 11 strikeouts and gave up no walks and two hits, and also went 2-for-3 at the plate to drive in all four Tracy’s runs Thursday in Lodi.

When Fisher was up to bat Natalia Motyka was on base. She went 3-for-4 with hit two doubles and a triple and scored three of Tracy’s runs. Marissa Davidson scored the other.

Coach Gerianne McGee said Tracy’s defense came through with some big plays, including in the sixth when Lodi threatened Tracy’s 2-1 lead. A low pop-up looked like it would drop halfway between Fisher and catcher Piper Johnson when Johnson dashed forward, stretched out and caught the ball right before it was to hit the ground.

(F) Tracy 9, East Union 1

Taylor Martinez struck out nine and allowed two hits in a win at the Tracy Sports Complex on Thursday. Martinez threw 76 pitches over six innings to shut down Lancer batters in the first five innings, and the Bullpuppies allowed one run for East Union in the sixth.

Tracy had a big third inning with five hits and six runs and scored another in the fifth when Jasmin Guevara hit a solo home run. Martinez and Sara Pombo also drove in two each.

Tracy’s record is now 17-2-1.

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