Local resident David Jablonski has served as president of the Oakdale Baseball Softball Association since 2013 and has helped young baseball and softball players develop in the community. This summer Jablonski formed a new team of local softball players from the ages of 10 to 12, and the team is known as the Oakdale Fillies.
“The goal for the Oakdale Fillies is to provide a competitive softball team or program based out of Oakdale for girls wanting to play more competitive softball and stay local,” Jablonski said.
The Fillies wasted little time this summer as they formed shortly after the OBSA recreational season came to a close in early June. Oakdale hosted a five-week mini-season that featured teams from Ripon, Ceres and the Lady Rebels, a team mixed with local players from around the area based out of Oakdale.
“The team is coming around. We started together mid-June. With the Fillies team all coming out of rec ball it has been a challenge getting the girls up to speed to compete with other travel ball teams that have been established. Our girls have positive spirits and know we are getting better every week,” Jablonski said.
During the weekly contests, the teams played at Fair Oaks Elementary School. This tournament was a friendly series of practice games between the four teams.
“The objective was for our girls to get live game experience to help prepare for weekend tournaments,” Jablonski noted.
This team of young talent quickly caught the attention of Premier Girls Fastpitch U-18 American Fastpitch Club Coach Don Gonzales.
“Helping the young girls in our town is important. The girls that I coach now were once 10-year-olds and idolized the Oakdale High School girls. They (the OHS players) came to us one year and the young girls really reacted to it,” said Gonzales. “Now that my girls are playing for Oakdale High School they wanted to come out and help them anyway they can.”
The American Fastpitch Club team members have often helped the younger girls during their practices.
Following their mini season, the Fillies are looking to join the competitive circuit.
“The goal is to offer Oakdale softball players the chance to play softball year-round at a competitive level,” said Jablonski.
He also said that the team will continue to grow fundamentally.
Jablonski is assisted by his coaching staff Ben Waltman and Jared Focha. The U-12 Fillies are currently looking for Oakdale players born in 2006 and 2007. Those players interested in joining the Fillies or in need of more information can contact Jablonski at (510) 299-1298.
