In the Valley Oak League season opener, the Lady Mustang varsity girls softball squad earned an impressive road win over Patterson. It was a 5-0 victory over the newcomers to the league. A strong outing by pitcher Jaelyn Lee, as well as her bat, helped power Oakdale to the victory. Thursday the team went to Sierra and shut them out 18-0.
Oakdale scored three runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back against Patterson. Their 3-0 lead would expand as they added a run in both the fourth and fifth inning. At the plate Lee went 2-for-2 with a home run and a double while bringing in two runs. As a team Oakdale got 10 hits as Briley Everett, Audrey Romiti and Madi Bohannon each had a hit in the win.
In the circle, Lee pitched a complete game shutout. She surrendered just two hits to the Tigers while striking out a handful and giving up no walks.
In the road win over Sierra, Oakdale’s bats erupted for 16 hits. Ten different players had at least one hit and five of them had a multi-hit effort. Reese Donaldson, Briley Everett and Emily Thomason each had three hits to help lead the way. Donaldson racked up four runs batted in.
Lee started the game for Oakdale in the circle and pitched two innings, striking out three. Emily Thomason pitched three innings, striking out four batters.
Their next game will be March 20 at home against Mountain House with a 4 p.m. start time.
Junior Varsity: It was also a 2-0 start to the regular season for the young Lady Mustangs. Oakdale edged out Patterson 9-8 and then blew past Sierra 18-4.
BASEBALL
Mustang varsity baseball players had a trio of games against Central Catholic this past week. It would be the Raiders winning the series as they took 2-of-3 from Oakdale. The Mustangs lost game one 8-6 but bounced back in game two with a 10-2 victory. On Saturday, March 15 Oakdale traveled to Modesto to play the Raiders and came back home with a 5-2 loss.
Oakdale found themselves in a 5-0 hole in game one but chipped away at the deficit late in the game. Oakdale scored four runs in the seventh inning but could not complete the comeback. Rowdy Sphar hit a home run for the Mustangs and drove in three runs. Eric Velazquez led the team in hits with three and drove in a pair. Oakdale used three pitchers in the game. Landon Schutte started the game for Oakdale and pitched four complete innings. He gave up five hits and three earned runs. Ayden Ardis threw an inning and a third and gave up three runs on three hits. Niki Jones pitched two-thirds of an inning.
Game two was a different outcome for Oakdale. The Mustangs scored three in the third inning and added six runs in the fifth inning to pull away from Central Catholic. Bas Stice and Gavin Wyatt each had two hits in the win. Jordan Haver started the game on the mound and threw five complete innings. Haver struck out six batters and gave up four hits. Jones came on in relief and threw two innings.
Saturday’s game saw Oakdale take an early 2-0 lead but the home team scored five unanswered runs to get the win. Oakdale’s runs came off the bat of Jordan Haver who hit a two-run home run in the second inning. Oakdale only had four total hits; two of which came from Haver. The other two hits were by Eric Velazquez and Gavin Wyatt. Peyton Wallace started the game for Oakdale and pitched five innings. He gave up six hits and two earned runs. Niki Jones gave up four hits and two earned runs.
Oakdale returns to Valley Oak League play on March 24 when they begin a three-game series against Sierra.
Junior Varsity: It took extra innings but Oakdale defeated Central Catholic 7-5 on March 10. This was their only game of the week.
Freshmen: The youngest of the Mustang baseball program swept Central Catholic in two games. It was a 7-1 road win and then a 7-4 home win.
