The Valley Oak League’s newest program, Kimball High, was all but mute in a fall schedule that saw traditional conference powers maintain their pace at the front of the pack.
The school, comprised only of freshmen, sophomores and juniors were equally quiet in the winter, when VOL basketball and wrestling stalwarts battered the Tracy area juniors and underclassmen.
But spring is proving to be a whole different story.
Kimball’s tennis team is one of the best in the league, but the bigger surprises have come from baseball, softball and soccer teams that have toppled Oakdale frontrunners in recent weeks.
Oakdale soccer and softball squads were the latest casualties of the Tracy teams with no seniors in last week’s league action.
Soccer
Oakdale lost to a speedy Kimball team in 3-2 fashion on April 8, after a 1-1 deadlock at the half and two late Jaguar goals.
Jessica Gomez and Jill Kahler each found the net for Oakdale, on assists by Gomez and Kerri Feuerstein.
Oakdale was rolling on an 8-0 landslide April 6 at home over Sonora after Markie Arnold, Feuerstein, and Kahler each netted two scores. Gomez and Bryanna Welch also scored while Kristen Brunk (two), Kahler (two), Arnold, Gomez and Sydni Avant notched assists.
The loss was Oakdale’s first of the season, and Kimball (5-0-2) now vaults into first place in the league standings. Oakdale (5-1-1) played Sierra (4-1-2) on Monday, though results were not available at press time.
The Oakdale junior varsity team is at worst tied with Manteca atop the league standings after a 1-1 deadlock with Sierra on Monday, getting the goal on a header from Brittany Carpenter. The team bounced Sonora in a 9-0 landslide on Wednesday with three goals from Izzy Arellano, two from Christina Bradshaw and one each from Marissa McDonald, Carpenter, Katelyn Jackson and Alyssa Perigen. Dishing out assists were Ally Jackson, Perigen (2), McDonald, Arellano (2), and Montana Nunes.
They also took down visiting Kimball by an 8-0 thrashing on Friday, with goals coming from Danae Rose(2), Arellano(2), Bradshaw(2), Becka Keating and Nunes. Multiple players also added assists, including the goal scorers along with Carpenter and Katie Homer.
The teams travel to Kimball for a rematch today, April 13
Baseball
Nothing comes for free in the Valley Oak League.
The entire conference has seen losses from nearly every corner of the standings, and Oakdale, Manteca, Sonora, Kimball and East Union all remain in the VOL title hunt past the league’s halfway point.
Oakdale (6-2) left Manteca (4-1) the only team with just one loss in league play after a 5-3 loss to East Union (4-2) on Monday that saw a tremendous performance from Lancer sophomore pitcher, Jordan Kron.
Oakdale rebounded from an 0-5 deficit to load the bases with no outs and score three runs in the top of the seventh, but a Kron strike out and forced pop-up ended the game.
Oakdale has now lost two make-up games where opposing teams were allowed to give their top starter the nod on the mound (they lost to Kimball earlier in the year).
In both contests, coaches saved ace Brennon Williams for action later in the week. And this week — with Sierra (4-2) looming — it’s certainly understandable.
“The league is very balanced and as Kimball has proven, there are no days off,” Oakdale coach Hondo Arpoika said. “The team is tighter than ever before and the focus has been great.”
Oakdale was rolling on the momentum of 10-0 and 16-1 wins over Lathrop in back to back five-inning contests. Kody Simons (2 for 5, three runs, two RBIs), Stefan Aguilar (2 for 3, two runs), Russell Longworth (3 for 3, three runs, two RBIs), Braydon Stephens (2 for 4 five RBIs, triple), Mark Ortiz (3 for 4, four runs, two RBIs), Andy Morris (home run) and Tyler Asher (2 for 2) swung the bat well against Lathrop.
Matt Butler, Longworth and Zach Abbott combined for the shutout in game No. 2, while Morris and Bryce Dyrda tallied the first win.
Williams (five strikeouts) was dominant in a 5-0 win over East Union on April 4 that started the Monday make-up series with the Lancers.
Oakdale is at Sierra today and hosts the Timberwolves on Friday.
Softball
Kimball exploded for 13 hits in a 10-5 win over Oakdale in an April 5 contest that destroyed Oakdale’s 5-0 lead to start the game. Kimball rallied behind a devastating seven-run fourth inning to upset the Lady Mustangs.
Oakdale fired back strong in a five-inning 10-0 shutout of Sonora on April 7 after a winning effort from Shelby Cordova on the mound.
Brooke Magnussen caught the game and belted a pair of hits with five RBIs. Francesca Orvis landed two RBIs as well.
The Oakdale junior varsity team saw Anneliese Davis strike out 10 in a 7-1 win over Kimball last week. Davis also hit 3 for 4 with a triple and stole two bases. Lauren Sanders was 2 for 4 in the game while Melinda Koppinger smashed a triple and nabbed two RBIs. The team then rallied to a 12-2 blowout over Sonora after a five-inning gem from Koppinger.
Swimming
Oakdale boys and girls varsity swim teams touched first often to nab wins over both Sierra and East Union in last week’s action in the VOL pool.
The girls topped East Union 100-70 and boys 100-61 (April 8), but the real drama came in the match-up with Sierra on April 5.
Oakdale has only beaten the Sierra girls once in school history (last year), and they repeated that feat with a 90-80 thriller at Sierra. The boys cruised to a 107-61 win.
Oakdale’s girls continued their usual relay dominance by winning the 200-yard medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays.
Kelsey Knollmueller won both the 200 Individual Medley and 100 free while Stevie Cordoza (100 backstroke), Katie Vanderburg (100 butterfly) and Whitney Pope (500 free) placed first.
The Oakdale boys won all three relays as well and saw Braden Lee take top honors in both the 500 free and 200 free. Hank Walter (100 back), Neal Cadra (100 breaststroke), Ryan Jones (200 I.M.), and Brandon Terwilliger (100 fly) also won events.
Oakdale hosts Weston Ranch and Lathrop on Friday.
Tennis
Oakdale slipped in a 5-0 loss to Sonora on April 5 without their No. 2 singles player.
Daniel Dunning and Jeremy Willinger each fell in 4-6, 4-6 scores to represent the squad’s best chance at a team point.
Oakdale is at East Union on Thursday.
The school, comprised only of freshmen, sophomores and juniors were equally quiet in the winter, when VOL basketball and wrestling stalwarts battered the Tracy area juniors and underclassmen.
But spring is proving to be a whole different story.
Kimball’s tennis team is one of the best in the league, but the bigger surprises have come from baseball, softball and soccer teams that have toppled Oakdale frontrunners in recent weeks.
Oakdale soccer and softball squads were the latest casualties of the Tracy teams with no seniors in last week’s league action.
Soccer
Oakdale lost to a speedy Kimball team in 3-2 fashion on April 8, after a 1-1 deadlock at the half and two late Jaguar goals.
Jessica Gomez and Jill Kahler each found the net for Oakdale, on assists by Gomez and Kerri Feuerstein.
Oakdale was rolling on an 8-0 landslide April 6 at home over Sonora after Markie Arnold, Feuerstein, and Kahler each netted two scores. Gomez and Bryanna Welch also scored while Kristen Brunk (two), Kahler (two), Arnold, Gomez and Sydni Avant notched assists.
The loss was Oakdale’s first of the season, and Kimball (5-0-2) now vaults into first place in the league standings. Oakdale (5-1-1) played Sierra (4-1-2) on Monday, though results were not available at press time.
The Oakdale junior varsity team is at worst tied with Manteca atop the league standings after a 1-1 deadlock with Sierra on Monday, getting the goal on a header from Brittany Carpenter. The team bounced Sonora in a 9-0 landslide on Wednesday with three goals from Izzy Arellano, two from Christina Bradshaw and one each from Marissa McDonald, Carpenter, Katelyn Jackson and Alyssa Perigen. Dishing out assists were Ally Jackson, Perigen (2), McDonald, Arellano (2), and Montana Nunes.
They also took down visiting Kimball by an 8-0 thrashing on Friday, with goals coming from Danae Rose(2), Arellano(2), Bradshaw(2), Becka Keating and Nunes. Multiple players also added assists, including the goal scorers along with Carpenter and Katie Homer.
The teams travel to Kimball for a rematch today, April 13
Baseball
Nothing comes for free in the Valley Oak League.
The entire conference has seen losses from nearly every corner of the standings, and Oakdale, Manteca, Sonora, Kimball and East Union all remain in the VOL title hunt past the league’s halfway point.
Oakdale (6-2) left Manteca (4-1) the only team with just one loss in league play after a 5-3 loss to East Union (4-2) on Monday that saw a tremendous performance from Lancer sophomore pitcher, Jordan Kron.
Oakdale rebounded from an 0-5 deficit to load the bases with no outs and score three runs in the top of the seventh, but a Kron strike out and forced pop-up ended the game.
Oakdale has now lost two make-up games where opposing teams were allowed to give their top starter the nod on the mound (they lost to Kimball earlier in the year).
In both contests, coaches saved ace Brennon Williams for action later in the week. And this week — with Sierra (4-2) looming — it’s certainly understandable.
“The league is very balanced and as Kimball has proven, there are no days off,” Oakdale coach Hondo Arpoika said. “The team is tighter than ever before and the focus has been great.”
Oakdale was rolling on the momentum of 10-0 and 16-1 wins over Lathrop in back to back five-inning contests. Kody Simons (2 for 5, three runs, two RBIs), Stefan Aguilar (2 for 3, two runs), Russell Longworth (3 for 3, three runs, two RBIs), Braydon Stephens (2 for 4 five RBIs, triple), Mark Ortiz (3 for 4, four runs, two RBIs), Andy Morris (home run) and Tyler Asher (2 for 2) swung the bat well against Lathrop.
Matt Butler, Longworth and Zach Abbott combined for the shutout in game No. 2, while Morris and Bryce Dyrda tallied the first win.
Williams (five strikeouts) was dominant in a 5-0 win over East Union on April 4 that started the Monday make-up series with the Lancers.
Oakdale is at Sierra today and hosts the Timberwolves on Friday.
Softball
Kimball exploded for 13 hits in a 10-5 win over Oakdale in an April 5 contest that destroyed Oakdale’s 5-0 lead to start the game. Kimball rallied behind a devastating seven-run fourth inning to upset the Lady Mustangs.
Oakdale fired back strong in a five-inning 10-0 shutout of Sonora on April 7 after a winning effort from Shelby Cordova on the mound.
Brooke Magnussen caught the game and belted a pair of hits with five RBIs. Francesca Orvis landed two RBIs as well.
The Oakdale junior varsity team saw Anneliese Davis strike out 10 in a 7-1 win over Kimball last week. Davis also hit 3 for 4 with a triple and stole two bases. Lauren Sanders was 2 for 4 in the game while Melinda Koppinger smashed a triple and nabbed two RBIs. The team then rallied to a 12-2 blowout over Sonora after a five-inning gem from Koppinger.
Swimming
Oakdale boys and girls varsity swim teams touched first often to nab wins over both Sierra and East Union in last week’s action in the VOL pool.
The girls topped East Union 100-70 and boys 100-61 (April 8), but the real drama came in the match-up with Sierra on April 5.
Oakdale has only beaten the Sierra girls once in school history (last year), and they repeated that feat with a 90-80 thriller at Sierra. The boys cruised to a 107-61 win.
Oakdale’s girls continued their usual relay dominance by winning the 200-yard medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays.
Kelsey Knollmueller won both the 200 Individual Medley and 100 free while Stevie Cordoza (100 backstroke), Katie Vanderburg (100 butterfly) and Whitney Pope (500 free) placed first.
The Oakdale boys won all three relays as well and saw Braden Lee take top honors in both the 500 free and 200 free. Hank Walter (100 back), Neal Cadra (100 breaststroke), Ryan Jones (200 I.M.), and Brandon Terwilliger (100 fly) also won events.
Oakdale hosts Weston Ranch and Lathrop on Friday.
Tennis
Oakdale slipped in a 5-0 loss to Sonora on April 5 without their No. 2 singles player.
Daniel Dunning and Jeremy Willinger each fell in 4-6, 4-6 scores to represent the squad’s best chance at a team point.
Oakdale is at East Union on Thursday.
