The Millennium softball team has claimed its first-ever league title, but the Falcons will have to share with Elliot Christian of Lodi after the Eagles won 4-2 on Friday, May 4, at the Tracy Learning Center.

Both teams finish the Central California Athletic Alliance season at 5-1 — the Falcons at 11-4 overall, the Eagles at 17-2.

The Falcons will still be the top seed from the CCAA in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII playoffs because of their 7-4 win over the Eagles in Lodi on Tuesday, May 1. It means the Falcons go right to the semifinals on Wednesday, May 16, at Lodi Softball Complex.

Senior pitcher Melissa Vierra said that after four years on the team she hoped for outright league championship, but is happy enough to share it with Elliot as both teams head to playoffs.

“More than likely we’ll face them (in playoffs), probably the championship game,” she said.

The Eagles scored first, and Millennium's Breana Reyes tied the game 1-1 with her solo home run in third inning. Elliot had a 4-1 lead after five innings, and Melissa Vierra tripled in the sixth and scored on Jaylyn Gutierrez' base hit, but the Falcon bats went quiet after that. Vierra had two base hits for the day and Gabrielle Ramirez also had a hit. Vierra pitched all seven innings and gave up seven hits.

Millennium coach Meagan Lunn also expects the Falcons will face the Eagles again, knowing that the Millennium team is capable of beating Elliot.

“Our team lacked the hitting aspect, but the defense stepped up a lot. Melissa pitched a great game,” she said.

Tracy 6, Lincoln 5

Sabrina George's three-run homer in the sixth inning brought the Bulldogs (19-4, 6-2 San Joaquin Athletic Association) back from behind for a 6-5 win over Lincoln on Friday, May 4, at the Tracy Sports Complex.

“I just tried to take it somewhere,” said George, adding that she didn’t realize until she looked up at the scoreboard that it would put the Bulldogs (19-4 overall, 6-2 San Joaquin Athletic Association) ahead of Lincoln (16-8-1, 7-1). She was just glad to make a contribution.

“We can go out and celebrate how we came together and always stayed up no matter what the score was,” she said. The win gives Tracy a share of second place, with Bear Creek and behind first-place Lincoln.

Lincoln took a 5-1 lead in the first three innings, including solo home runs for Hailey Kaufmann and Yesenia Rodriguez, before Tayler Misfeldt came in to relieve starting pitcher Julia Fernandez.

“It was nerve-wracking, definitely against Lincoln when we were down 5-1,” she said. “It put a lot of pressure on me. It was just something that I had to do.”

Misfeldt also contributed at the plate with a two-run homer in the fifth inning to cut Lincoln's lead to 5-3, and was the winning pitcher after she shut down the Trojans, facing nine batters in three innings and two more in the seventh before she walked Rodriguez. She gave up her only hit to the next batter, but center fielder Jazmin Clark fired the ball to third base as Rodrigeuz tried to advance and Fernandez made the tag for the final out.

Misfeldt also doubled, Ellie Fisher had two hits and Alee Balanon and Julia Fernandez both singled. Fernandez allowed seven hits over three innings.

Sophomores: Tracy 8, Lincoln 2

Pitcher Kimberly Paschal gave up four hits and two runs, one of them earned, in Tracy's 8-2 win Friday, May 4, at the Tracy Sports Complex.

Casey Eddy-Berry and Sylvia Guasch had three hits each, Felisha Suniga singled and tripled and Rebekah Delarosa and Lyndsee Cracraft had two hits each. The win puts Tracy at 16-3-1 overall and 5-3 in the SJAA.