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Baseball Boys Grind Out Four Games In Eight Days
4-6 OAK Base1
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Monday’s make-up contest against visiting East Union, April 4, marked the first of four games in eight days for Oakdale High’s varsity baseball team this month.

And Oakdale needs to be sharp in all of them.

The Mustangs surrendered a surprising 5-4 loss to host Kimball on March 28, putting the team in dire need of Valley Oak League success if they are to properly defend their fourth consecutive conference championship.

Oakdale won in 5-0 fashion over East Union (1-2 VOL, 5-5 overall), one of a handful of major players involved in the chase of Oakdale’s perennial champions.

The Mustangs (4-1, 11-3), trailed Sierra (3-0, 7-2) and Manteca (3-0, 9-4) as of Monday’s league standings. They were set back a game when three runs in the top of the seventh tied things up with Kimball, but couldn’t stop a lone Jaguar score in the bottom frame.

Oakdale’s offense sputtered to just four hits (six walks) and struck out 15 times. Kody Simons went 1 for 2 and made three trips to first base.

Andy Morris tossed three innings with four runs allowed, and Bryce Dyrda suffered the loss despite allowing just one run in over three innings.

Oakdale bounced back with aggressive wins over Weston Ranch in 10-0 (March 30) and 11-0 (April 1) fashion last week. Braydon Stephens batted 5 for 7 in the series with a triple, three runs and four RBIs. Justin Martin hit 2 for 3 with four walks and four runs while Brennon Williams smashed a grand slam and batted 3 for 6 with seven RBIs. Simons hit 3 for 6 while Spencer Thomas delivered a 4 for 7 performance with three RBIs in the two games.

In the same game that he smashed a grand slam, Williams tossed five scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts and only two hits allowed. Thomas closed that game with a perfect inning. Longworth (five strikeouts) and Zach Abbott combined for the win on April 1 as well.

Oakdale opens the first of a Wednesday/Friday series with Lathrop (3-8-1) today, April 6. The Mustangs tackle their second make up game at East Union on April 11.

 

JV/Frosh

Oakdale’s junior varsity team is 9-3 on the season and 4-0 in league play after 11-1, 10-9 wins over Kimball and 13-0, 17-3 wins over Weston Ranch.

The JV Mustangs have outscored their opponents 103-46 so far this season.

The Oakdale freshmen are 7-3 overall and 3-1 in league play after a 12-2 win over Manteca, a 4-3 win against Kimball, a 9-3 win over Manteca and a 2-0 loss to Sierra.

The team has outscored opponents 80-32 this year.