The Oakdale High School varsity softball team ended its regular season run with a 10-4 home loss to East Union. The showdown took place on Tuesday, May 9 where Oakdale scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first on a Maddy Brewer RBI double that brought in Grace Green.

East Union took a 3-1 lead in the third inning on a two-RBI single by Alexis Erich off Oakdale’s Lexi Webb. East Union then scored on a fielder’s choice with two outs to pull ahead 3-1. The Lancers did not let off the gas and added six runs in the top of the fifth to go up 9-1. Oakdale answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a solo home run by Webb to center field to cut the Lancers lead to 9-2. In the seventh inning East Union expanded their lead to 10-2. Webb answered with a two RBI double that went into the right field corner and as a result of an error by the Lancers, Webb scored on the play to make it 10-4.

Oakdale (18-9, 9-5) finished in fourth place in the Valley Oak League and got the 12th seed in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs. Oakdale took on fifth seeded Pioneer (18-5-1, 11-1) of Woodland on Tuesday, May 16 after The Leader’s press time. Pioneer took first place in the Tri-County Conference. If Oakdale was successful they would go on to take on either fourth seed Vanden or 13th seed Merced on Thursday, May 18 in a 4 p.m. game at the higher seed’s home field. The playoffs continue May 22 at Arnaiz Complex in Stockton and the championship game is scheduled for Friday, May 26 at 5 p.m. at Arnaiz Complex.

JUNIOR VARSITY

The Oakdale junior varsity girls fell to East Union 2-1 in the season finale. The girls did, however, end up sharing the Valley Oak League championship with the Lancers.