Tracy Press

 
Big hits net Tracy Babe Ruth district championship

Brandon Nahm lays down a bunt to reach first base in the fourth inning during Friday’s championship game against Escalon. Nahm would later score in the inning, helping clinch the District 1 crown. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

Tracy’s 12-year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars recorded another big win Friday as they claimed the title for the Cal Ripken District 1 tournament at Monte Vista Middle School.

Manager Ron Vares said the only worry that the 16-2 win over Escalon could bring is that the players might take such a lopsided victory for granted going into the state tournament in Fresno next week.

“We’re just going to have to know that they’re not going to blow people out all the time,” he said. “There will be some close games.”
Tracy will be the No. 1 seed from the North Valley going into the tournament, which starts Friday at Polk Elementary School in Fresno. Escalon also will go, as will Lodi, a team Tracy beat 21-8 on Tuesday.

Tracy and Escalon played a close game for the first few innings Friday. Pitchers Mike Gerber, Nate Scanlon and Nikko Martinez gave up two hits the entire game and struck out 10 batters in five innings.

Nate Scanlon started his team’s scoring with a solo home run in the top of the first inning, and Lodi responded in the bottom of the first with a run when Robert Perata walked and came home on a sacrifice grounder.

Tracy rallied again in the fourth on hits from Scanlon and Wesley Thompson. Grant Kuczma also got on base on a fielder’s choice, and Brandon Nahm followed with a bunt and outran the throw. Two more runs scored on that play, as Escalon missed tags on baserunners.

In the fifth inning, Tracy ran away with the game on an 11-run rally. Hits included a three-run homer from Martinez, which Brennan Bowman followed with a double to right field. Petey Bafford, Cole Link, Clay Fegett, Ryan Vares and Scanlon also drove in runs.

Manager Ron Vares said he was able to get everyone in the game Saturday.

“It was a total team effort,” he said.

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