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Oakdale Players Propel West In All-Star Win
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West outfielder and Oakdale Mustang Logan Hall steps into the batters box in the 27th Annual Modesto Sunrise Rotary Baseball Classic. The West won the contest, 6-5, with the game played in Turlock. Photo Courtesy Of Eddie Ruiz

With four players and three varsity coaches on the West staff, Oakdale made its presence known on Saturday night, June 11 at the 27th annual Modesto Sunrise Rotary Baseball Classic. Oakdale Mustangs Sean Gingerich, Ben Solorio, Bryce Kirk and Logan Hall all made the trip to Stanislaus State in Turlock for the game. Along with the boys, varsity OHS coaches Nate Gregory, Joe Peterson and Eric Brink made up the West coaching staff along with Gregori coach Jim Davis.

Oakdale and 10 other local schools united in making up the West squad and went on to defeat the East 6-5.

“The guys did a great job out there. Solorio got on base a few times and even got a steal for us. Gingerich was an alternate and came in to do some nice things,” said Oakdale head coach Nate Gregory. “Hall hit the ball hard and Bryce did well too.”

Getting the opportunity to coach players from multiple schools at the all-star event, Gregory said he was definitely impressed.

“To see the talent in the area firsthand has been great but to be able to coach them as well has been amazing too,” he said.

One of the out of town standouts Gregory had in his arsenal was Turlock outfielder Jon Temple. He came up just a double short of hitting for the cycle. Temple went 3-for-4 with a home run, single and triple.

“We rotated out a lot of the guys throughout the night, but kept Temple in. He was special to watch and coach,” Gregory said of the University of Utah bound Temple.

“It really is special to coach the talent in the area. They (the players) feed off each other’s momentum and competitiveness and that makes them strive to be better baseball players,” Gregory said of the squad working together and driving for the victory.