TRACY – The NorCal Classic softball tournament is traditionally a three-day bracketed tournament with divisions, but Mother Nature had other ideas and the rain shortened the tournament to two days and changed the format to round-robin at the Tracy Softball Complex.
As such, there are drop-dead time limits, and that forced East Union (8-6-1) and Bella Vista of Fair Oaks (10-9-2) to dual to a 5-5 tie with the Lancers scoring four of their five runs with two outs.
“Scoring with two outs is a testament to our fight-back mentality,” Lancers coach Steffany Zanini said. “Something that has been consistent throughout our whole season is that we never give up and we are always ready to fight back and stay in it, no matter how many outs there are or what the score is.
“I appreciate that about our team.”
The big inning for East Union was a three-run third. With two outs, Kaitlyn Reyes (two RBI, double, run) had a two-RBI double that plated Mackenzie Nervis (2 for 3, run) and Aubree Gann (3 for 3, double, two runs, stolen base). Kylee Gann singled in Reyes to draw the Lancers to within 4-3.
Myresa Harper (2 for 3, RBI, run) scored on groundout Brooke Grabowski in the fourth inning and Harper singled in Aubree Gann with two outs in the fifth to tie the score at 5-5. The game was called in the sixth due to time.
East Union faces Ripon this morning at 9 and follows that with Escalon at 10:45.
Manteca 0, Enochs 0
The Buffaloes (14-4-1) managed just one hit against the Eagles (11-9-1) of Modesto before the game was called due to time in the top of the seventh inning.
Manteca’s Jessica Almeida belted a one-out ground-rule double in the bottom of the fifth inning and advanced to third on a groundout. Almeida, who was the only Buffaloes base runner, was left stranded at third.
“Their pitcher threw hard,” Buffaloes coach Josh Farris said. “She throws really, really well. I told our girls that this was a good softball game. Both pitchers pitched well. Nelly (Nayellys Torres) pitched like she always does – she pitched well and she competed.
“We had no errors. It was just a great game. Obviously I would have liked to scratch one on top after Almeida’s double.”
Torres pitched into the seventh and struck out nine against six hits and four walks. Manteca was in the middle of a pitching change when the time limit was reached.
The Buffaloes face Gregori this morning at 9 and Turlock this afternoon at 2:15.
