By PETE SIMONCINI
Sports Correspondent
The Oakdale Mustangs varsity girls’ softball season ended with an excellent 20-8 record and a semi-final appearance in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. The Mustangs were a young team, and the 2023 All-Valley Oak League selections indicate that the program’s future must be viewed as promising.
According to head coach Larry Loger, several of his players achieved All League status this year.
Pitcher Of the Year: Delainey Everett. Incredibly, Everett won this award over four consecutive years – from freshman to senior. This year, Everett was masterful in the circle compiling a record of 12 wins against three losses with an earned run average of 0.951. Over 88-and-a-third innings pitched, Everett struck out 155, walked 38, and surrendered only 24 runs on 41 hits. She will attend Mississippi State University on a softball scholarship next year.
First team selections included: junior catcher Presley Barnes, who recorded the most first team votes in the league; junior third baseman Morgan Wright, who received the third most first team votes in the league; junior pitcher and first baseman Raegen Everett; and sophomore outfielder Morgan Merzon. Second team recognition went to sophomore shortstop Madi Bohannon while sophomores Bailey Peterson, a centerfielder, and second baseman Jayci Volonte were recognized as members of the league’s All Defensive Team.
Loger also announced the awards presented by the three different teams in the Mustang Softball Program. The varsity awards included Barnes as the best offensive player, Delainey Everett as the best defensive player, Merzon as the Most Improved Player, and Wright as the recipient of the Coaches’ Award.
Head junior varsity coach Don Gonzalez, who can boast an undefeated and VOL championship season, announced the winners of the JV awards as Reese Donaldson as the Best Offensive Player, Emily Thomasson as the Best Defensive Player, Brielle Lee as the Most Improved Player, and Grace Constant as the recipient of the Coaches’ Award.
Head freshman coach Haley Fuller Trent presented the winners of the freshman team awards as Valerie Vargas as the Best Offensive Player, Grace Garavaglia as the Best Defensive Player, Hannah Turpin as the Most Improved Player, and Eri Kakuno as the recipient of the Coaches’ Award.
