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Air Quality Delays Oakdale’s Outdoor Scrimmages
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Junior varsity basketball player Caleb McDonald displays his vertical attack when goes airborne against Livingston in a home scrimmage. Leader Photos By Dennis D. Cruz
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Gabriel Martinez and the rest of the wrestling Mustangs got to work in a scrimmage in preparation for the upcoming season.Leader Photos By Dennis D. Cruz
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Henry Porter works his opponent on the mat during their home scrimmage. Leader Photos By Dennis D. Cruz

Oakdale High School had scrimmages for multiple winter sports squads this past week. Both wrestling and basketball were in action however, poor air quality kept the soccer clubs off the field. Boys and girls soccer were scheduled for a pair of scrimmages but the poor air quality due to wildfires in California canceled them out. The boys were scheduled to travel to Patterson on Monday, Nov. 12 and Riverbank on Wednesday, Nov. 14 to scrimmage the Bruins. Friday afternoon Oakdale was scheduled to host their first non-league contest against Central Valley but that was canceled as well. Currently, the Mustangs are scheduled to travel to Franklin on Wednesday, Nov. 21 and host Pitman on Tuesday, Nov. 27.

Girls soccer also had a setback due to air quality. They were scheduled to host Turlock on Tuesday, Nov. 13 and host Riverbank on Wednesday, Nov. 14 but both preseason contests were both canceled. If the air quality is ruled healthy, the team is scheduled to hit the field for their non-league opener on Wednesday, Nov. 21 when they host Lincoln. Junior varsity would be scheduled for 4 p.m. and varsity to begin at 6 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 26 the team is scheduled to head up the hill to Sonora for a 3 p.m. junior varsity start and varsity is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.

Indoor sports were in full effect this past week when Oakdale wrestlers hit the mat for a home scrimmage. On Friday, Nov. 16 the Mustangs held a scrimmage where Clovis North, Del Oro, Turlock, De La Salle, El Capitan and Escalon all grappled inside Oakdale’s Main Gym. In the scrimmage the Mustangs had 13 wrestlers suit up.

“It’s great to get back out here and put in work,” said state qualifier Clayton Bashor.

Last season Bashor joined Brayden Abell, Ricky Torres, Cody Golding, Gabe Martinez and Henry Porter at the CIF State Championship Meet in Bakersfield representing the Mustangs. All of these wrestlers are returning for another championship run. On Saturday morning the junior varsity, novice and girl wrestlers took the mat as well in a scrimmage. The Mustangs are now off until Saturday, Dec. 1 when they travel to Atwater for the 2018 Bristow Brawl. Wrestling is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

Boys basketball hit the hardwood. On Tuesday, Nov. 13 the boys hosted a trio of teams in a round robin scrimmage that featured Calaveras, Chavez and Livingston. This was their only action but the hoop boys return to the court on Wednesday, Nov. 21 when they travel to Pacheco. Freshmen tip off at 4 p.m., junior varsity at 5:30 p.m. and varsity at 7 p.m.

On Friday, Nov. 23 the boys host are slated to host Livermore with the same scheduled tipoff for all three teams. Monday, Nov. 26 the Mustangs take the bus to Livingston.

Oakdale’s Lady Mustang hoopsters were in action this past week. On Wednesday, Nov. 14 the team hosted Calaveras, Livingston and Atwater in scrimmage play. The road trip continues for Oakdale, traveling to Enochs on Wednesday, Nov. 21. Freshmen tip off at 4 p.m., junior varsity at 5:30 p.m. and varsity wrapping up the night at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 28 the girls head to Tracy with the same tipoff times.