Two games, two wins this week for the varsity Oakdale Lady Mustangs softball team. Oakdale defeated the defending Sac-Joaquin Section Champion Ceres Bulldogs on Tuesday, Feb. 28 by a 4-0 final and went on the road and knocked off Gregori 4-0 on Thursday, March 2.

In the home victory over Ceres, the Lady Mustangs scored three runs in the second inning to jump on the Bulldogs early. Starting pitcher Grace Green pitched seven strong innings giving up just two hits while striking out eight. Green also did damage with her bat as she hit a triple and scored a run in the win.

“We know this pitcher. We faced her in the playoffs last year and she pitches hard and high. So we came in knowing what she brings to the table,” said Green on facing Ceres ace Caralin Nunes. In the playoffs last year Ceres defeated Oakdale 5-3.

Oakdale head coach Larry Loger was pleased with the team’s performance on Tuesday.

“After all the bad weather it was nice to get a game in,” Loger said. “We’re excited to have a young, talented team.”

Two days later the girls headed to Modesto to play Gregori in their second preseason game of the year. Oakdale swung big bats as Maddy Brewer and Shay Trent each hit a home run in the team’s victory.

“I just wanted to make contact and get on base. I did not think it was going to go over but the ball carried,” Trent said of her home run.

Like the team did earlier in the week, they scored three runs in the second inning and got solid pitching. Lex Webb pitched a complete game and struck out a dozen, allowing just two hits. It was a good day for the young players on the team as well as first year varsity players Rilyn Cassaretto, Marilyn Waterman and Chloe Vierra each notched their first varsity hits in the win.

Oakdale continues their busy preseason with a three day tournament. The girls will be playing at Arnaiz Fields in Stockton in the St. Mary’s Tournament. Oakdale will play Tracy on Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and their second game is scheduled against Downey on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The team finishes up the tournament on Saturday. Oakdale returns home Tuesday, March 14 against Merced with a scheduled first pitch time of 3:30 p.m.