The Valley Oak League baseball race may not unfold on an asphalt track, but it has the thrills and lead changes of a high-powered auto race.

Oakdale (9-3), Manteca and Sonora trail first place East Union, with former league leader, Sierra just behind.

Oakdale split a series with East Union, and did the same with Manteca last week after a 1-1 deadlock in the eighth inning on Thursday broke open on a five-run Buffaloes flurry (two RBI base hit, home run) in the top half of the extra inning.

The 6-1 loss was tough to swallow for an Oakdale team that was looking strong to keep its VOL lead after a dominant win over host Manteca and an incredible effort from Oakdale’s Brennon Williams.

Not only did the Mustangs ace pitcher shut out Manteca in a 6-0 win, he also drove in five of the runs and scored the other. Williams cracked a two-run triple in the top of the fifth inning to break the scoreless tie and scored himself when Andy Morris’ pop fly was misplayed in right-center field. Then in the seventh he clubbed a spirit-breaking, three-run homer to right.

On the mound he struck out five and walked two in a four-hitter.

Back on May 6 of 2010, the four-time Valley Oak League champion Mustangs lost 4-3 at Manteca. Williams nearly tied it with two outs in the seventh inning with a moon shot to center field, but Manteca’s Michael Timmins clinched it with a game-saving over-the-shoulder catch near the warning track.

“That’s been in the back of my head ever since,” Williams said. “I knew that this year I’d get to pitch here, so I wanted to do my best and compete to my best ability.”

With two outs, Matt Butler (2 for 4) hit a line drive to first base that was dropped to spark the ice-breaking rally. Kody Simons walked, and that was when Williams drilled his triple.

“I like being in that pressure situation,” Williams said. “I was confident in myself, and I just told myself that I was going to get the job done.”

Oakdale (13-4 overall) took on host Valley Christian (12-10) in the first game of the Crown Classic on Tuesday, though results were not available at press time. They play again on Thursday and Saturday.

JV/FRESHMEN

Oakdale’s junior varsity team improved to 13-5 overall and 8-2 in Valley Oak League play after a big 3-1 win over East Union and a 1-1 split of contests with Sierra. The freshman team is 11-6 overall and 7-2 in league after a 4-3 loss to Lodi and a 10-5 win over Manteca.

Manteca Bulletin Reporter Jonamar Jacinto contributed to this report.