It was a week of tests for the Oakdale High School varsity softball team as the Lady Mustangs (14-0-1, 7-0-0) hosted a pair of Valley Oak League games. On Tuesday, April 9 the girls took on East Union (9-5, 6-1) in a battle for first place. After seven full innings, it was Oakdale winning the highly anticipated showdown 5-2. Two days later, Oakdale survived a scare from Kimball (4-7, 3-4) and came out on top, 4-2.
Against East Union, the Lancers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. However, the deficit did not last long as Oakdale tied the game minutes later when Cortney Koelmans brought home Rilyn Cassaretto on a two-out single.
With the score still tied at one; Oakdale broke the game open in the bottom of the third inning when they scored four runs. Koelmans, Mariyn Waterman and Emily Smith all had a run batted in during the inning. Leading the team in hits on the day were Smith and Cassaretto with two each. Dylan Gonzalez stole two bases. Lexi Webb pitched seven innings giving up six hits, two runs (one earned) and struck out 13.
In their thrilling win over Kimball, Oakdale had a 2-0 lead in the second inning but the Jaguars tied it in the third. With the game tied at two in the bottom of the sixth, Koelmans got on base with a hard hit ball to deep center field. Catcher Rylie Goodridge knocked in the go-ahead run when she tripled to right field to score Koelmans and Goodridge raced home on a throwing error to go up 4-2.
“It was a tough battle, Kimball is a good team this year,” said Goodridge. “Lexi (Webb) pitched great today and she makes my job easier as a catcher. As for the RBI hit, I saw my pitch and took advantage of it.”
The team collected ten total hits on the day. Shortstop Brittany Bye had two hits on the day to lead the team at the plate. Webb pitched a complete game for Oakdale and gave up four hits, one walk and struck out 15.
Monday, April 15 the girls traveled to Manteca to take on Sierra (4-4, 4-3) in a make-up game from earlier in the season. On Tuesday, Oakdale traveled to Weston Ranch to take on the Cougars (5-9, 1-5). Both games were played following The Leader’s sports press time. Thursday, April 18 the team will host Manteca (5-7, 2-3). This will be Oakdale’s final regular season home game and will include honors for the team’s three seniors. Webb, Bye and Smith will all be honored before first pitch.
JUNIOR VARSITY
For the first time this season, the junior varsity girls came up on the short side of the scoreboard. On Tuesday, April 9 the girls lost 3-2 to East Union. Oakdale led 1-0 in the third but could not hang on. In the loss, Katie Silva pitched a complete game and had 11 strikeouts. Amanda Bricker went 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple and scored both runs. Oakdale had four total hits in the game.
On Thursday the team bounced back with a 4-0 home win over Kimball. Bricker pitched a strong game as she had a perfect game going into the fifth inning. She finished the game with 11 strikeouts and surrendered just three hits. Taylor Word and Sophia Ortiz both had triples in the contest.
