The 2018 Valley Oak League season is underway and for the Oakdale High School varsity softball team, it has been an impressive start. Oakdale had two VOL games this past week and made short work of both of them. On Monday, March 26 the Lady Mustangs traveled to Manteca to face the Buffaloes and won 11-1. Oakdale trailed 1-0 after the first inning but the girls answered with their fierce offense that exploded for 11 unanswered runs. The trio of Grace Green, Lexi Webb and Brittany Bye combined for 10 hits, two home runs and four runs batted in. Mariyn Waterman accounted for three RBI and freshman Dylan Gonzales also brought in two runs in the road win.
In the circle Webb pitched a complete game and only gave up a pair of singles in the first inning and ended up striking out nine batters in her eighth win of the season.
On Wednesday, March 28 the girls hosted their season opener and destroyed Lathrop 28-0. The dominance began with Waterman in the circle as she pitched a complete game, serving up a dozen strikeouts and giving up just one hit.
“Waterman was in the zone and had an impressive start,” said head coach Larry Loger.
The long ball helped power Oakdale, which scored 20 runs in the second inning alone. Green and Bye each had a home run but it was Lexi Webb who connected on two home runs and had eight runs batted in on the day.
“I think we are all really focused this year, and that’s what has us playing so well,” said Webb.
Brittany Bye’s home run came just days following the death of her grandmother. She dedicated her performance to her, as did the entire team as they wore red and gold ribbons on their uniforms and visors.
Gonzales went 3-for-3 at the plate and brought in three runs and Emily Smith went 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBI. Riley Goodridge also turned in a memorable performance as she went 2-for-2 with two RBI.
This will be an action packed week for the Lady Mustangs as they head to Sierra to face the Timberwolves on Wednesday, April 4 and travel to Tracy for the NorCal Spring Tournament that begins on Friday, April 6.
JUNIOR VARSITY
The junior varsity team continues to perform well as they outscored their two opponents 49-0 this past week. On Monday, March 26 the girls shut out Manteca 19-0 on the road and handed Lathrop a 30-0 setback in Oakdale’s home opener of the VOL campaign. Alexa Aguilar, Alicia Platt and Rachel Haakma each drove in two runs to help lead the team against Manteca. Cortney Koelmans pitched a complete game no-hit shutout in the road win.
FRESHMEN
For the first time in nearly a decade, Oakdale has a freshman team. The team is coached by Rick Tussing. Oakdale defeated Lathrop 22-10 on the road but fell to Lincoln High School 23-8. The team is scheduled to return to play on April 16 at Lincoln High School with a 4 p.m. start time.
