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Softball Squad Turns Focus To East Union
softball
Maddi Hackbarth swings for the fences during the teams 7-1 home win over Sierra. The senior has hit five home runs in the teams last five games. DENNIS D. CRUZ/THE LEADER

After putting away Sierra and Central Catholic, the Oakdale varsity Lady Mustangs softball team has improved to 6-0 in Valley Oak League action and 12-0 overall for the season. On Tuesday, April 12 the Lady Mustangs faced their league rival, East Union (13-0, 5-0) on the road, in a game played after The Leader went to press.

“East Union is the game I am looking forward to the most. They are the Section champs and know what they’re doing out there. They’re going to come at us with their best, but we will get our chance with them and we will have a few tough practices in before Tuesday night,” senior Maddi Hackbarth said of the showdown between the last two Sac-Joaquin Section Champions.

As of Monday, April 11 Oakdale had the most runs in the Valley Oak League, outscoring opponents 138-15. East Union had outscored their opposition 85-11.

In the team’s 7-1 home win over Sierra, Oakdale used the long ball to get past the visiting Wolves. Senior Maddi Hackbarth homered for the fifth time in as many games to help power Oakdale. The future Fresno State Bulldog catcher blasted a two run home run off Lindsay Wallsjasper and sent it over the centerfield wall and into the junior varsity field. The one out blast gave Oakdale a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning.

“I’m just seeing the ball really well right now. I’m just trying to do anything I can to help this team get wins. We want to win the Section title this year,” said Hackbarth, who went two-for-three with three RBI in the win.

In what was supposed to be a road game for the Lady Mustangs, Oakdale hosted Central Catholic and steamrolled the Raiders 11-1 on Thursday, April 7. Oakdale jumped out to a 2-0 first inning lead and never looked back. Third baseman Grace Green put Oakdale on the board with an RBI triple to bring in Kindra Hackbarth from third base to give Oakdale a 1-0 advantage. Kindra went three-for-four with two RBI. Maddi Hackbarth brought in Green with an RBI single to give Oakdale a 2-0 lead in the first. Senior pitcher Scarlett Brock held the Raiders in check as she struck out nine batters and gave up two hits in pitching a complete game.

Oakdale pulled away in the third inning on a one out Lexi Webb inside the park grand slam as the freshman crushed the ball deep into right field to give Oakdale a commanding 6-0 advantage.

“I had two strikes, and the pitcher was consistently pitching to the outside so I anticipated that pitch and let it go,” said Webb.