STOCKTON — Turns out Nikki Moreno's game-winning home run on Tuesday was pretty important.

The Tracy High softball team had handed first-place Lodi its first league loss with Moreno's blast, but it seemed unlikely at the time that it would give the Bulldogs anything but a bit of momentum heading into the postseason.

Then Tracy beat Franklin 5-0 in its season finale on Thursday, and Lodi lost 1-0 to Lincoln, meaning the Bulldogs and Flames will share the San Joaquin Athletic Association championship that was Lodi's to lose when the week began.

Tracy (17-8, 8-2 SJAA) got a no-hitter from Morgan Hayes against the Yellowjackets (10-17, 2-8). Moreno was a big factor at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a pair of triples, while Sara Amorello went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Samantha Balanon also had two hits for Tracy.

The Bulldogs will begin play in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs at the Sacramento Softball Complex on May 17.

Speaking of championships, the Tracy sophomores finished theirs off with an 8-0 win over the Yellowjackets in five innings. Tracy (16-2, 10-0) got a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts and no walks from Stephanie Fisher, who also went 3-for-3 with a double, a triple and an RBI. Piper Johnson drove in two runs for Tracy.

East Union 4, Manteca 0

MANTECA — Erin Arevalo's no-hitter wrapped up the Lancers' second consecutive Valley Oak League championship.

Arevalo walked just one batter and struck out 16, giving


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her 428 strikeouts for the season. That leaves her two shy of her career high for a season.

The Lancers (23-4, 12-2 VOL) were led by Brittany Lamar, who went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Jillian Goulart had two hits, Alicia Cook had a triple and drove in a run, and Nycole Teeple was 1-for-2 with an RBI.

East Union will begin play in the Division IV playoffs at Stockton's Arnaiz Stadium on Wednesday.

Sierra 6, Weston Ranch 3

STOCKTON — Karissa Valdez went 4-for-4 and drove in three runs to lead the playoff-bound Timberwolves over the Cougars in the season finale.

Heather Scharmann was 2-for-4 with a triple, one RBI and two runs for Sierra, which will also begin the D-IV playoffs on Wednesday after clinching a postseason berth with a win over Manteca on Tuesday.

Breann McGraw went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and struck out six in four innings. Gabrielle Hawkins pitched the final three innings and struck out three. Emily Silva also had two hits for the Timberwolves.