Valley Oak League perfection, 14-0. The Oakdale High School varsity baseball team capped off the memorable season with a two game sweep over the Kimball Jaguars this past week. On Monday, May 8 the boys hosted the Jags and defeated the visitors 6-1 and two days later Oakdale defeated Kimball 10-1 on the road to complete their first unbeaten season in Valley Oak League action since 2012.
Prior to their home win, Oakdale honored their dozen seniors for Senior Day 2017. The official Voice of the Mustangs, Pete Simoncini, announced the boys and their future college plans before the first pitch. Seniors are Blake Whiting, Sean Gingerich, Tyler Hall, Jacob Gerber, Blake Maddock, Michael Juarez, Nick Moore, Cullen Bearden, Jordon Williams, Vito Rodin, Wesley Allen and Bryce Kirk.
Following the ceremony, the boys were focused and were dialed in early. Leadoff batter Tyler Hall blasted a solo home run to start the game. Oakdale tagged on solo runs in the third, fourth and fifth before scoring two runs in the sixth to put it away.
Jordon Williams’ triple in the sixth inning electrified the crowd and drove in a run.
“That was my first extra base hit of the season. I saw it (the pitch) coming down the middle so I pulled it opposite field and standing on third felt great,” Williams said of his RBI triple.
He finished the season with an on base percentage of .492 which ranked him fifth in the Valley Oak League.
Pitching for Oakdale was senior Vito Rodin, who pitched a complete game two-hitter for his seventh win of the season. He ended the campaign with an era of 0.51, best in the Valley Oak League. His seven wins tied him for third amongst VOL pitchers.
On Wednesday the boys went to Tracy and took care of business. The Mustangs scored five runs in the third to put the Jags away. In the road victory Michael Juarez connected on three hits and brought in four runs for Oakdale. Rodin had a three-run home run to help power Oakdale. Blake Whiting started the game for Oakdale on the mound and went five innings giving up one hit and striking out 10. This was Whiting’s eighth win of the season; he finished second in league in wins and first in batters struck out with 85.
The Mustangs earned the number two seed in the Division III Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs and will play Rio Americano on Thursday, May 18 at 4 p.m. at McAuliffe Memorial Ballparks in Sacramento. Rio Americano, the tenth seed, won Monday’s play in game over number seven Woodland by a final of 5-3. If Oakdale defeats Rio Americano in the single elimination first round, the Mustangs then enter the best two-out-of-three rounds that begin Saturday, May 20. The championship game is scheduled for Monday, May 29 with a yet to be determined time.
JUNIOR VARSITY
A pair of shutout victories over Kimball gave Oakdale the VOL title with an 11-3 record. This is Oakdale’s second straight VOL title. Oakdale defeated Kimball 6-0 on Monday, May 8 behind a three-RBI day from Max Moore. Jacob Solorio, Isaac Higle and Jacob Elting each had an RBI in the win. Josh Garcia pitched a complete game shutout, surrendering three hits and striking out six. Two days later the Mustangs defeated Kimball 3-0 on the road where Solorio, Moore and Josh Gerber each had an RBI. Justin Jericoff went five-and-a-third innings for Oakdale, giving up just one hit.
FRESHMEN
Oakdale finished the year strong, winning six out of seven games and finished in third place in the VOL. On Monday, May 8 Oakdale defeated Kimball 9-6. Hits by Evan Waite, Brett Maddock and Pedro Acosta helped power Oakdale. On the defensive side, third baseman Dominic McDonald played shutdown baseball and pitcher Brett Maddock kept the Mustangs in it. Earning the save for Oakdale was Diego Valdez. Oakdale finished the season on Tuesday, May 9 against Manteca as they fell to the Buffaloes 3-1. Angel Medina and Pedro Acosta each had a double for Oakdale.
“I am beyond pleased with how the boys were able to finish off the year strong. Hopefully they can use this as a piece of foundation of momentum and confidence for their years to come,” first year head coach Joey Machado said of his team.