STOCKTON — Kelsey Emerson played her final softball game Friday at The University of the Pacific’s Bill Simoni Field, but she left with a memory that will last a lifetime.

The East Union graduate delivered a solo home run for the South team in the third inning of the 22nd Annual High School All-Star Softball Classic. It was the only jack hit in the game, and it extended the South’s early lead to 6-1.

It turned out to be a deciding insurance run, as the South held on to win, 8-7.

Emerson led Manteca-area hitters with five round-trippers this past spring season, but she was all smiles while rounding the bases as if it was her first ever.

“I was just trying to come up big and pump the team up,” said Emerson, who also pitched the fifth inning. “It was nice to be able to help out the team.”

The North squad was comprised of players from Stockton and Lodi, while most of the South members hail from Manteca and Tracy.

Mia Ramirez was the lone representative from Manteca High, but she was not among strangers. Joining her were East Union’s Kailee Nuding, Sierra’s Lily Gonzales and, of course, Emerson — former teammates turned rivals and then teammates one last time.

“It was an experience that you can only live once,” said Ramirez, who will continue her career at nearby Delta College. “I got to play with girls I’ve either played with or against since I started playing softball, and that was great.”

Nuding contributed to the South’s hot start. In the second inning, she belted a single and later scored on an infield single from Linden’s Isabella Nicol.

Ripon Christian’s Jessica Myers was also on the winning team. Fellow Knight Katie Thomas was also selected to play for the South but missed the game to an illness.

Myers chipped in an RBI and was the winning pitcher with her two innings (third and fourth) of work from the circle. She will play for Southwestern Oregon Community College.

“My senior year was pretty good softball-wise,” Myers said. “We did much better (at Ripon Christian) than we did my first three years there, and getting to play in this game is fun.”

Alexandra Alvarado and Raileen Romo, both of Weston Ranch, each recorded a hit for the North team.

Romo’s knock came in the top of the ninth was part of the North’s come-from-behind threat in the ninth. That was followed by a two-run double by Bear Creek’s Celine Blanco with one out.

Alexis Lopez of Kimball, who pitched two shutout innings to start the game, re-entered for the South and induced the team’s fourth inning-ending double play for the save.

Taylor Brink of St. Mary’s and Linden’s Ashley Watanabe were named the Most Valuable Players and were awarded scholarship money. Watanabe tossed three shutout innings for the South, turned a double play in the first to leave the bases loaded for the North and legged out an RBI triple in the bottom half.