Tracy Press

The Bulldogs' big hitters hope to boost their team to the top spot in the league with two games against Lincoln.

Tracy High slugger Stevie Ramos, who holds the Bulldogs single-season record for hits, looks to power his team past the Lincoln Trojans in a pair of contests this week. A win in either game, and Tracy will be the San Joaquin Athletic League title-holder. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

In Friday’s game at Lodi, he connected for a triple, and after his shot between shortstop and third base, his 43rd hit this year, every hit for Ramos is a new school record for most hits in a season.

"This year, my bat’s just been working for me," the Bulldog senior said. "I just feel like I’m helping my team by getting on base most of the time."

Ramos is also first in the San Joaquin Athletic Association in hits and third in the Sac-Joaquin Section.

"He’s just a hard worker and has a great attitude," coach Vic Alkire said. "It’s great to see him having this success this year. It’s well-deserved."

He’s the third Bulldog with the potential to set a new school record every time he comes up to bat. Left fielder Ryan Scornaienchi is the team’s career base-hit leader, and first-baseman Vince Canale is the team’s career RBI leader and needs two more to become the single-season leader.

With these batters, plus Justin Evans, who is eighth in the league in base hits, Tracy is in a comfortable position going into the last week of SJAA play against Lincoln High, on the road today and at home Friday.

The main setback for the Bulldogs this season was an 8-3 loss to the Titans from Chavez High on April 25. If not for that, the Bulldogs would have had the league title wrapped up Friday.

So Tracy needs one win against Lincoln this week to take the league title, and Alkire said that regardless of the outcome the Bulldogs will be in the playoffs.

The final week of league play starts with Tracy in first place at 7-1 and Lincoln, Lodi and Bear Creek tied for second at 5-3.

Lincoln still has the potential to take the league championship if it beats Tracy twice. Lodi or Bear Creek could also end the season at 7-3 if one of those teams sweeps the other in back-to-back games against each other this week, but Tracy has beat both of those teams twice and would prevail in a tie-breaker.

"I feel good about this week," Alkire said. "Our guys are focused. Lincoln has always been our rival, and that’s enough to keep us focused."

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written by R David , May 07, 2008

Go Bulldogs! Clarification - Ramos is leading for the year - Canale is leader for SJAA season.

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written by Former_Player , May 08, 2008

Finally a team Alkire hasn't screwed up!

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written by R David , May 08, 2008

Ha! Attend a game or two - you'll see that he has his moments.

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written by Old Pres , May 09, 2008

Yeah...three playoff appearances for a program that had 2 in 80 years. You are so right "Former Player" he's screwed up a lot. R David...you go man...20-5 is a lot of "moments". Big problems with this coach...Are you guys serious? Former Player, I bet you went on to sign professionally you were so good. The "coach" just screwed up the team with all that talent. You guys need to go back to the Banta Inn or Rusty's and keep spewing your "logic" to the "spirits."

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written by R David , May 10, 2008

Old Pres - I think Alike says it best.

Quote from tracyhighbaseball.com

"I'm very excited personally with what we have accomplished and I'm also very excited for the student athletes. You know we challenged three players three years ago (referring to Canale, Scornaienchi, and O'Bryan). You are the future of THS baseball I said in 2005. At that point we had not won a playoff game in at least 16 years. These kids helped us win 3 straight and we have continued to evolve. First it was just make the playoffs. Now it's a league title. I'm sure everyone on the team is excited, but we are not satisfied. We are looking forward to playing an excellent team in Golden Valley on Wednesday."

Alkire was given talented players who didn't allow him to screw them up. Canale & Scornaienchi have been in the baseball spot light since they started little league - if you've lived here long enough and truely follow local talent you should know that! No "spirits" are needed for these two - each have great talent and are focused in the classroom.