The Oakdale varsity baseball team traveled to Turlock this weekend for the Pedretti Tournament. Oakdale struggled and went 1-2 in the tournament. The Mustangs started with a 5-4 loss to Turlock. Oakdale trailed 3-0 after three innings but bounced back to take a 4-3 advantage in the fifth. Turlock answered with two runs in the bottom half of the fifth to regain the lead. Max Moore had two RBI in the loss.

Oakdale’s next game saw the Mustangs give up nine runs in the third inning to Modesto where the Mustangs lost 10-7. Hayden Knittel had two hits for Oakdale and knocked in three runs. The Mustangs scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to close the gap as they trailed 10-2 entering the final frame.

In their final game of the tournament Oakdale defeated Enochs 13-5 to end the weekend on a high note. The Mustangs scored five runs to start the top of the first inning, however gave up five in the bottom of the first. Pitcher Michael Juarez entered the game as a relief pitcher and pitched three scoreless, hitless innings and struck out six. David Wright delivered two hits and brought in three runs as the Mustangs scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull away.

“We had shown great strides throughout the tournament,” said first year head coach Chris Henry. “Unfortunately, we continue to allow one negative inning to control the outcome of our games. In each of the losses we played one bad inning.”

Henry had praise for the team, however, following the victory over Enochs.

“The win against Enochs was a quality team win which proved our abilities. We just need to continue to play hard-nosed baseball with grit and have the mental toughness to not take pitches or innings off,” Henry said.

On Tuesday, March 13 the team traveled back to Turlock to take on Pitman following The Leader’s press time. Oakdale returns home on Thursday, March 15 when they host Consumes Oaks with first pitch scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

JUNIOR VARSITY

A positive weekend for the JV team as Oakdale went 3-0 in the Gregori Salida Rotary Classic. Oakdale took first place after beating Modesto 15-4, Turlock 4-0 and Gregori 4-0 in the championship game. Big efforts were seen from Austin Meeks, Gage Brink, Seth Presant, Diego Valdez and Garrett Lee, as they helped power the boys to a championship weekend. Oakdale traveled to Turlock to take on Pitman on Tuesday, March 13 following The Leader’s press time and is scheduled to host Consumes Oaks on Thursday, March 15.

FRESHMEN

On Monday, March 5 the boys defeated El Capitan on the road 14-0 behind 13 hits. Later in the week Oakdale hosted their Spring Tournament and went 1-1. Oakdale defeated Lincoln 3-1 to start the tournament on a strong note. Gannon Davis and Brody Ferreira each had two hits for Oakdale. Josh Dutra, Joey Jansen and Owen Pena each had clutch hits as well. Oakdale’s momentum did not carry over in the second round when they were shut out by Turlock on Wednesday, 12-0. The Mustangs hosted Pitman on Tuesday, March 13 following The Leader’s press time and will host Central Valley on Wednesday, March 14 at 3:30 p.m.