The varsity softball team continued their winning ways as the girls picked up two more victories in league play this past week. Oakdale (17-1, 11-1) turned in two dominating performances as the girls defeated Lathrop 11-0 and Sierra 20-3.
Oakdale welcomed Lathrop (1-13, 0-11) to town on Tuesday, April 24 where freshman pitcher Lexi Webb not only started the game on the mound, but also hit a home run in the team’s home shutout. Oakdale began their rout as sophomore third baseman Grace Green hit a one out triple to right field. The next batter, senior Maddi Hackbarth, brought Green in on a one out triple of her own on a hard hit ball to right field to give Oakdale a 1-0 advantage. After an overthrow error by the Spartans, scoring Hackbarth from third, Oakdale took a 2-0 lead with two outs. Then Webb belted her fourth home run of the season to make it 3-0 in the first.
Oakdale opened things up in the third inning as the girls added more runs to their lead to make it 7-0 in the third. Senior outfielder Kindra Hackbarth continued to have an impressive final season for the Lady Mustangs as she hit a two out RBI triple in the inning over the center fielder’s head. Her twin sister Maddi, both going to Fresno State this fall, hit a liner up the middle and gave the outfielder trouble, resulting on an overthrow that allowed Hackbarth to clear the bases and scored on what was ruled a triple and error making it 5-0 Oakdale. Fellow senior Emily Greenwood also got involved for the Lady Mustangs as the infielder drove in two more runs for Oakdale on a base loaded no out two RBI single to give Oakdale a commanding 9-0 lead.
“Coach (Larry Loger) tells us never to take a team lightly because they are a team and every team is capable of winning. Having that said we did not want to let up. You cannot let up against any team in the VOL,” Greenwood said.
The Lady Mustangs followed up their impressive performance with a 17-run road win over Sierra (12-4, 9-4). In the game Kindra Hackbarth and Grace Green each hit a home run. Hackbarth went 4-for-5 in the game with a home run, a triple and four RBI on the evening. Hackbarth currently leads the VOL in batting average .695, slugging percentage 1.271, runs 30, stolen bases with 16 and on base percentage .706.
“Our practices are intense, and that intensity carries over into our games, especially following the East Union game from two weeks ago,” Hackbarth said.
Oakdale has two games remaining on their schedule, both at home. The Lady Mustangs were slated to host Central Catholic (4-9, 2-6) on Tuesday, May 3 after The Leader went to press, and welcome in the first place East Union Lancers (19-0, 11-0) in the regular season finale on Tuesday, May 10.
“Our coaches will have us ready for them (East Union) again. We were close the last game and we think we can win at home,” Hackbarth said.
