STOCKTON — Tracy High's Jacob Valdez launched a 330-foot drive down the right-field line in the seventh inning with two aboard.

Unfortunately for Valdez, the Lincoln right fielder ran to the fence to make the catch just under the foul pole to keep Lincoln's playoff hopes alive with a 4-0 win in San Joaquin Athletic Association baseball action.

"If we win Friday, we have a piece of the league championship," Trojans coach Ryan Murray said. "If we lose, we get nothing."

Sophomore hurler Josh Rodriguez had the Bulldogs' number, allowing just one hit and striking out nine.

"Rodriguez started only one game for us this year and had 12 scoreless innings coming into this one. Now he has 19 and has given up no runs in league."

Daniel Heefner got the lone hit for Tracy (20-5, 7-2 SJAA) with a leadoff single in the fifth.

"The key to the game was that their pitcher just did an excellent job of keeping us off balance," Bulldogs coach Vic Alkire said. "We didn't adjust and continued to take the same at-bats we took in the first inning."

Lincoln (11-11, 6-3) will travel to Tracy on Friday to wrap up league play with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.

VALLEY OAK LEAGUE

Manteca 12, Weston Ranch 2

MANTECA — Manteca used an eight-run fourth on the way to a five-inning mercy-rule-shortened contest.

Beau Fryer led the Buffaloes (14-11-1, 8-5 VOL), going 2-for-3 with a triple. Tim Larson homered, Toby Fox went

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2-for-3, and Robbie Lewis (2-for-2), Kevin Allen and Ryan Knisely each knocked in a pair of runs for Manteca.

Michael Piccirilli doubled for Weston Ranch (1-20, 0-13 VOL).

"I am very pleased with the way we threw strikes, played defense and hit the ball," Manteca coach Neil MacDannald said. "I hope we can duplicate our performance on Friday."

A win Friday will assure the Buffaloes a playoff spot with the remaining slot going to either Sierra or East Union whose game was canceled due to an official's scheduling error.

Sierra, East Union

MANTECA — Wednesday's game was postponed when only one umpire showed up and will be played today at Agostini Field at 4 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

West senior Whitney Howard took her game to another level this season. Next season, she'll be playing at the next level.

Howard, who broke school records for single-game and single-season rebounding as a senior, will sign to play on a partial scholarship at Humboldt State University.

Named the San Joaquin Herald's Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Howard averaged 19.4 points and 11.1 rebounds per game for the Wolf Pack this season.