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Shutout Victory For Varsity Lady Mustangs
JV Girls Win Big
softball
Sophomore pitcher Grace Green was dominant on Thursday, March 17 in the varsity softball squads 15-0 VOL win. Green pitched three full innings striking out five, and went 3-for-3 at the plate for three RBI. Photo Courtesy Of Mary Hackbarth

 

In their only game of the week, the Oakdale Lady Mustangs softball squad looked in midseason form in their league opener. Oakdale welcomed Kimball to town on Thursday, March 17 and host Oakdale dominated the Lady Jaguars 15-0 in Valley Oak League (VOL) action.

Oakdale (1-0) opened the game up early, scoring four runs on four hits in the first inning. Senior outfielder Kindra Hackbarth led the game off with a double down the third base line. Starting pitcher Grace Green entered the batter’s box and sent the ball into orbit hitting the center field fence for an RBI triple sending Hackbarth across home plate for the 1-0 lead. Maddi Hackbarth’s pop up gave the Kimball infielder trouble as she lost it in the sun as Hackbarth reached first on the error and Green scored, extending the lead to 2-0. Haley Fuller’s RBI single and Emily Greenwood’s fielder’s choice accounted for Oakdale’s next two runs of the opening inning.

The Lady Mustang bats picked up where they left off and erupted for six more runs in the second inning. Oakdale’s big inning started on a bunt single where Brittney Bye raced down the first base line to beat out the catcher’s throw. Bye displayed her speed once again on the first pitch of the next at bat as she stole second and third after an overthrow by the catcher. Green got her second hit of the game when she slapped the ball deep to right field for her second RBI of the day and her second triple.

“We practiced really hard this past week so the team was very energetic heading into today. Coach Paul (Hackbarth) has been working with me on my patience at the plate,” Green said. She went 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI on two triples and a double.

Green also did damage in the circle where the sophomore gave up just one hit while striking out five in three innings of work.

Taking a commanding 10-0 lead after two innings Oakdale scored five more runs in the third inning highlighted by Kindra Hackbarth’s leadoff triple. Hackbarth went 2-for-3 at the plate with a stolen base.

Oakdale traveled to Stockton to play Weston Ranch (0-1) on Tuesday, March 22 following The Leader’s press time. The Lady Mustangs return home on Thursday, March 24 to host Manteca (2-0) at 4 p.m.

 

Junior Varsity

Like the varsity team, Oakdale’s junior varsity team’s bats were loud on Thursday. Oakdale knocked off visiting Kimball 10-4 in the regular season opener. Oakdale used three runs in the fifth inning to help pull away in the league game.