Wins in their first two playoff games came on the home field for Oakdale’s varsity softball girls. The Lady Mustangs – champions of the Valley Oak League – entered the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 playoffs as the number two seed. Earning the top seed was Capital Christian.
In their opening round contest on May 14, Oakdale hosted the number 15 seed Patterson Tigers. Oakdale defeated Patterson 7-2. The Mustangs scored one run in the first, a pair in the second and jumped on the Tigers for four runs in the fifth inning. Patterson scored both of their runs in the top of the sixth inning. Morgan Wright had a home run for Oakdale and drove in three runs. Audrey Romiti added two hits. Presley Barnes, Madi Bohannon and Aaliyah Sesma all had a hit. In the circle for Oakdale were Raegen Everett and Jaelyn Lee. Everett pitched six innings; giving up just two hits, two runs, five walks and struck out a half dozen. Lee pitched one inning, retiring all three batters faced via strikeouts.
Two days later, a pitcher’s duel broke out as Oakdale hosted number 10 seed Vista del Lago. The teams battled through five scoreless innings until Oakdale finally broke through and scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning. The host squad held off the visitors in the seventh to win by the 2-0 final over the Eagles. Jayci Volonte and Bailey Peterson each knocked in a run for Oakdale. Presley Barnes and Madi Bohannon each had two hits in the victory. Everett pitched a complete game; she gave up three hits, walked one and struck out 11 batters.
The wins put Oakdale into the semifinal round; they faced off with the number six seed and VOL rival Manteca Buffaloes on Tuesday afternoon, May 21. It took extra innings, but Oakdale came away with the 2-1 win with a run in the ninth inning, punching their ticket to the Section finals.
It will be the top two seeds in the division battling it out for the blue banner, as Oakdale will take on top seed Capital Christian, which advanced via semifinal win over Ponderosa.
The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, May 25 at 1 p.m., Cosumnes River College i Sacramento.
