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Lady Mustangs Earn Pair of VOL Wins
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Junior Scarlett Brock pitched a one hitter against Weston Ranch in Oakdales varsity softball 18-0 home win. Brock struck out six batters in her five innings of work. DENNIS D. CRUZ/The Leader

 

Head coach Larry Loger and his varsity softball girls are reminding teams why they’re the defending Sac-Joaquin Section champions. The Lady Mustangs improved to 15-7 overall and more importantly 7-1 in league play after an 8-5 road victory over Kimball and an 18-0 shellacking of winless Weston Ranch on Thursday, April 16 at home.

In a seesaw battle with Kimball (2-4) Oakdale used a five run top of the fifth to overcome a 3-1 deficit. Oakdale freshman Grace Green helped power the Lady Mustangs going 3-for-3 from the plate driving in two runs on a pair of doubles. She also scored two runs and stole a base. Melanie Benge earned the win after tossing a complete game, but did most of her damage from the plate going 2-for-4, scoring a run and hitting a double in the fifth inning. This was Benge’s first performance since pitching a no hitter in a tournament game against Merrill West over spring break.

Oakdale’s big bats came out during their home game against Weston Ranch. The Lady Mustangs jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in bottom of the first. Green, who went 2-for-2 in the game, got things started with a triple with one out. Maddi Hackbarth drove her in with a single to put Oakdale on the board. With runners on the corners and one out, Emily Greenwood drove in both runners with a two-RBI double to expand the led to 3-0. Caylie O’Neal capped off the inning with a two out RBI single to score Greenwood.

The Lady Mustangs’ hitting expedition continued in the second inning tacking on five more runs to take a 9-0 lead after two. With runners on second and third, Hackbarth added on another RBI with a single to advance Shay Trent home from third. Oakdale loaded up the bases and they were quickly cleared after junior Cierra Duke sent the ball deep down the right field line and onto the warning track resulting in a three run double giving Oakdale an 8-0 lead. Oakdale added their ninth run of the game on a throwing error.

Things continued to go from bad to worse for the Lady Cougars as Oakdale added more runs in the third. Hackbarth drove in two more runs on her third consecutive single of the game. She finished the day going 4-for-4 with five RBI. Duke brought Hackbarth in from first on an RBI double to make the score 12-0 with one out in the third. Trent, Kindra Hackbarth and Maddi Hackbarth added another run each to bring the score to the score to 15-0 after three.

Oakdale scored two of their final runs on walks and the other came from another throwing error.

Not to be overshadowed by the team’s powerful offense, pitcher Scarlett Brock dished out a one hitter in the win. Brock struck out six batters and gave up no walks in the game. The only hit she allowed was a leadoff double to start the game.

“Just wanted to bring my hard work from practice during the week, and apply it to the game. We have worked hard as a team and now that is starting to surface,” Brock said.

Oakdale looks to continue their winning ways as they will face three VOL opponents this week. They were scheduled to clash with Manteca (6-3) on Tuesday, after press time. The girls return home to take on Lathrop (0-8) on Thursday and wrap up the week on Friday against Central Catholic (2-6) in Modesto. The Lady Mustangs currently sit in second place, just behind East Union in the VOL standings.

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