Around the Oakdale High School campus, the spring sports teams are in full swing, with everything from golf to swimming, baseball to softball and boys volleyball getting in some meets, matches and games this week.
Here is a round up of the recent action for the squads.
VOLLEYBALL
Friday night, March 8 the Oakdale High School boys volleyball team took the home court. The Mustangs hosted Downey High School and the visiting Knights defeated the Mustangs in three straight sets.
In the first set Oakdale trailed 12-1 but the Mustangs would close the gap to 17-11. However, the Knights would end the set on an 8-0 run to win 25-11. More of the same in the second set as Downey would once again win 25-11. Down 3-0 early in the set, Oakdale took a 4-3 advantage following a point by Jacob Kindrick. However, Downey went on a 10-3 run resulting in a timeout for the home team. The Mustangs ultimately lost the set.
The third set saw a determined Mustang team. Down 11-2, the Mustangs stopped the 8-0 Downey run when Julio Galvan hit the ball over the net and between two defenders. Later, Kindrick spiked the ball to make it 16-7. The Mustangs would bring it to 19-14 forcing a timeout for Downey. The Knights would regain the momentum and end the set on a 6-3 run to close out the Mustangs 25-17.
“These boys are competitive and determined,” said Mustangs coach Kelly Nasrawi speaking on the third and final set. “That’s one of the things we discuss, is that we learn from previous plays and that we try and correct them as the match goes on. They did a great job in the third. They knew that they were down early but battled and competed the whole time. I am proud of their effort, again this is a new program and they learn and improve every day.”
This week Oakdale hosts Livingston on Wednesday, March 13 at 6 p.m.
Thursday night the boys travel to take on Big Valley Christian High School at 6 p.m.
SOFTBALL
In diamond action on Wednesday, March 6 the Lady Mustangs varsity softball program hosted Tracy in a non-conference showdown. The highly anticipated contest lived up to the hype. When the final out was recorded, it was Oakdale coming out victorious, 3-1.
In the bottom of the second inning, Oakdale took a 2-0 lead. The team tagged on their third run in the bottom of the sixth inning to go up 3-0. Tracy scored their lone run in the top of the seventh inning.
Jayci Volente had an RBI single for Oakdale. The host Lady Mustangs had a total of five hits in the game. Briley Everett, Jaelyn Lee, Raegen Everett and Presley Barnes all had a hit in the win. Oakdale had three total steals in the game as well. Reese Donaldson, Volente and Bailey Peterson each had a steal.
Taking the circle for Oakdale was Raegen Everett. She pitched a complete game, allowing five hits, one run (unearned), and striking out six.
This week Oakdale continues their non-conference play. Monday, March 11 the team hosted Lincoln following The Leader press time. Over the weekend the girls will participate in tournament play. Friday, the girls take on Arroyo Grande and on Saturday, March 16 the team will play Clovis West and Hollister.
Valley Oak League play begins on March 26 when the girls host Sierra.
BASEBALL
The Oakdale High School varsity baseball team continues to shine this preseason. This past week the Mustangs defeated Pitman 16-6 on Wednesday, March 6 and then on Friday, March 8 the boys traveled to Lodi and put out the Flames 7-3.
In their road contest against Pitman, Oakdale found themselves in a 4-0 deficit entering the third inning. From there, Oakdale’s bats came alive. Landon Schutte hit a home run, Jordan Haver and Griffin Costa each had two hits. Trey Parsons had a pair of RBI in the win. The Mustangs scored 13 runs in the fifth inning to put away Pitman. Christian Diebner had a stolen base as well.
Tommy Chance pitched three-and-two-thirds innings surrendering seven hits, six runs (five earned); he also walked four and struck out three. Trey Parsons pitched one-and-a-third innings of clean baseball. Parsons did not give up any hits and struck out three.
In their road win against Lodi, the Mustangs put up three runs in the first inning and took a 4-0 advantage in the second inning. With the score 4-3 after five, Oakdale tacked on two more runs in the sixth and one more in the seventh.
Schutte and Reid Grandstaff each had two RBI for the Mustangs. Chance had a pair of hits. Also having a hit in the game were Haver, Eric Velazquez and Glen Weber. Diebner and Costa each had a stolen base. Haver was the winning pitcher as he pitched four-and-two-thirds innings. In his outing he struck out nine batters, gave up three runs, walked a handful and surrendered five hits.
This week Oakdale (6-0) will host Tracy on Wednesday, March 13 at 4 p.m.
Friday, the boys travel to Clovis for a game at 6 p.m.
GOLF
Monday, March 4 the boys began their golf season, looking for another solid season on the links. Competing against 25 teams in the annual Yellowjacket Invitational at Turlock Golf and Country Club, Oakdale carded a team score of 314 to capture first place. Ripon Christian came in second place at 318 and Granada placed third at 320. Junior Nolan Harris notched a par-72 on the day. It was enough for him to be on top of the leaderboard in the tournament. Freshman Esutardo Duque scored 77 and sophomore Owen Hauselmann carded a personal best 78 to help guide Oakdale to the tournament championship. Other Mustang representatives were Easton Thalman (87) and Robert Bordona (88).
On March 6, Oakdale played Escalon in a nine hole match and was also victorious. In an effort to continue building the program Oakdale has kept 17 players on the boys golf team.
In the Escalon match six more players competed who did not play in the previous matches. Oakdale was led by Carson Sundberg’s 43 against Escalon.
Monday, March 11 the team welcomed 21 schools with 123 golfers from around the section for the Oakdale 100 Tournament hosted at Oakdale Golf and Country Club; results were not available by press time.
SWIMMING
Oakdale High School swimmers had a productive week as they took on Kimball and hosted the annual March Madness Invitational. On Friday, March 8 the team traveled to Tracy to face Kimball. The varsity girls won 78-75 and boys came away with a 130-34. Here are some first place finishers from the meet.
Varsity Boys: Logan Castano - 50 Freestyle 23.53; 100 Freestyle 54.19; Brayden Costa - 200 IM 2:23.52; 500 Breaststroke 7:26.51; Efrain Duarte - 100 Backstroke 1:12.99; Cullen Liekhus - 200 Freestyle 2:13.58; Colton Thoni - 100 Breaststroke 1:16.98; 200 Medley Relay - Wiley Ballantyne, Brayden Costa, Tyler Mercer, Logan Catano 1:52.10; 200 Freestyle Relay - Cooper Fox, Tyler Fox, Wiley Ballantyne, Logan Castano 1:38.65.
Varsity Girls: Ellie Frazer - 100 Backstroke 1:09.27; Hannah Markovich 200 IM 2:47.04; Leah Sales - 100 Breaststroke 1:20.99; Avery Zulim - 200 Freestyle 2:44.76; 200 Medley Relay - Ellie Frazier, Hannah Markovich, Adel Vega-Torres, Josie Thompson 2:18.65; 200 Freestyle Relay- Ellie Frazier, Leah Sales, Hannah Markovich, Claire Tolboe 2:00.57.
Saturday, March 9 the school hosted the March Madness event. The following swimmers earned top 10 finishes.
Varsity Boys: Cullen Liekhus - 500 Freestyle (seventh place); Logan Castano - 50 Freestyle (ninth), 100 Freestyle (sixth); 200 Medley Relay - Wiley Ballantyne, Brayden Costa, Tyler Mercer, Logan Castano (fifth); 200 Freestyle Relay - Wiley Ballantyne, Colton Thoni, Tyler Mercer, Logan Castano (third); 400 Freestyle Relay - Brayden Costa, Colton Thoni, Cullen Liekhus, Logan Castano (second).
Varsity Girls: 200 Medley Relay - Ellie Frazier, Leah Sales, Izzy Saber, Hannah Markovich (eighth); 200 Freestyle Relay - Leah Sales, Ellie Frazier, Claire Tolboe, Hannah Markovich (tenth); 400 Freestyle Relay - Leah Sales, Ellie Frazier, Izzy Saber, Hannah Markovich (eighth).
