Seniors lead Oakdale softball to 1st section title since 2019, winning 8-inning thriller
The Oakdale High softball team’s seniors have their share of experience.
They have won 68 games over the past three varsity seasons with a co-VOL championship and a pair of deep playoff runs, reaching the Division III section semifinals in the past two years.
One thing they had never done was play for a section championship.
They got that chance this year in the Division III section title game Saturday as the second seed against top seed Capital Christian and made the most of the opportunity.
Despite their first exposure to the “big game”, the Mustangs’ veterans were at their best, leading Oakdale (22-6) to its first section title since 2019 with an eight-inning 3-2 win over the Cougars.
UC Riverside signee Raegen Everett was brilliant in a pitchers duel, striking out 14 and allowing just two hits. On offense, she drove in a run.
University of the Pacific-bound catcher Presley Barnes was credited with the team’s other RBI. Morgan Wright got an offense that was stumped by Capital Christian sophomore pitcher Ayla Tuua going with an eighth-inning double. Bailey Peterson scored the Mustang’s third run.
It was a moment of redemption for a class that has been through its share of heartbreak in the section playoffs.
“Our pitcher, catcher, center fielder, third baseman, those are all our seniors, so that’s a big deal to have all of them right up the middle of your defense where you need it,” coach Larry Loger said. “They did a great job.”
Everett and Tuua battled in the circle for the entire contest. The pair allowed just one hit through the first four innings and combined for 27 strikeouts. Saturday was the fourth time this season that Everett has tallied more than 13 strikeouts in a win.
“I’ve worked hard all season to be in games like this,” Everett said, “and throwing to great hitters and a great team just brings me to another level. Having my team behind me, I trust in every single one of them.”
With the game tied at 0-0 and one out in the eighth inning, the Mustangs took the momentum. Wright lined a double to center field. In the next at bat, Peterson was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second.
Two batters later, Wright scored the game’s first run on a hit by Jayci Volonte.
“I was just telling myself, ‘Me and the ball. Me and the ball,’” Wright said of her double. “Blocking out all the background noise, I was looking for my pitch and I got it.”
Barnes came up next, driving in Peterson with a single up the middle as the Oakdale fans in attendance erupted.
“I’ve literally dreamed of a moment where I can get an RBI in a situation like that,” Barnes said. “Just to benefit the team like that, it just makes me over the moon.”
Everett came up next with runners on first and second. She hit a hard ground ball to the Cougars (23-3-1) shortstop and reached on a fielder’s choice. Heads-up baserunning by Volonte saw the junior score from second to extend the Mustangs’ lead to 3-0.
The Cougars had their moment in the bottom of the eighth with two outs, scoring twice on a deep single to center field. But one batter later, Everett forced a game-ending groundout to end the game.
All six of the Mustangs’ losses this season came against quality opponents as a result of a bulked-up nonleague schedule. The team beat Division II section finalist Tracy early this season, traveled to Fresno to take on top Central Section teams and participated in the ultracompetitive NorCal Classic at Tracy High.
Loger says all of that was in preparation for Saturday.
“We played the toughest schedule Oakdale High’s ever played,” he said. “I’m really proud of this group. We did that on purpose, so when we got here, it wouldn’t seem like we were overmatched. They’re just ready to go.”
Barnes gave Tuua her credit, saying she was the best pitcher Oakdale has faced all season. The super sophomore struck out 13 Mustangs. But Barnes also said that the strength of this year’s team is its ability to make in-game adjustments.
“We’ve been in a lot of situations where it’s high stress and you can’t have mistakes,” Barnes said. “And I think that’s what made us come out on top today. We knew how to handle all the stress that came with this game.”
In qualifying for the section title game, the Mustangs also secured at least one extra game, punching their ticket to the CIF Northern California regional playoffs, which start Tuesday.
Because the NorCal softball playoffs just started in 2022, this year’s team secured the first berth in the program’s history.
As section champions, they hope to host at least one round in the regional postseason. Brackets are released Sunday. First-round games are Tuesday and regional semifinals contests are Thursday. The regional championships are Saturday, June 1. All games are at host sites.
“We’re so thankful for that. We didn’t want our season to end. I didn’t want to ever stop playing with these girls,” Everett said. “I wish I could play with them forever. We’re really lucky that we have the chance to keep playing, get more games in and be with our girls longer.”
