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Orestimba softball defeat Cougars
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Throwing three innings and striking out six in Escalon, junior Hailey Starr of Orestimba also gave up several runs but made up for that with her own offensive production. The visiting Warriors upended host Escalon, 14-8, in TVL play on April 17 and Starr went 3-for-5 with a double, home run, a run scored and three runs batted in during the contest. - photo by MARG JACKSON

NEWMAN, Calif. – A burst of runs is what the Orestimba High softball team needed in a Trans-Valley League game on April 17.

Playing at Escalon, Orestimba (4-3 in the TVL, 8-9 overall) maintained its third place spot in the league with a 14-8 win over the Cougars.

Escalon (1-7 in the TVL, 4-14) held a 3-2 lead entering the top of the second inning. That is when Orestimba scored five runs to take a 7-3 lead.

But the Cougars clawed their way back into the game in the bottom of the third frame, also scored five times for an 8-7 advantage.

In the top of the fourth inning, Orestimba knotted the game at 8-all with a run. Then the Warriors proceeded to score twice in the fifth, one in the sixth and secured the game with three runs in the seventh inning.

The Warriors finished with 18 hits in the game. Orestimba batters Lexi Alves, Hailey Starr and Ellery Gustafson had three hits each. One of Starr’s hits was a home run. Gustafson had a triple and Alves a double. Hannah Taft and Sophia Machado had two hits each for the Warriors.

Escalon finished with eight hits at the plate. Jayci Trimble and Chloe Green had two hits each.

Entering this week in the league standings, Orestimba is behind Hughson (6-2 in the TVL, 13-7-1) and first-place Ripon (7-1 in the TVL, 10-7). Hilmar (3-4 in the TVL, 9-9) is in fourth place.

Orestimba 11, Turlock 1

In a non-league game on the Warriors’ field on April 16, Orestimba led 2-1 entering the bottom of the fourth inning. That is when it produced four runs for a 6-1 advantage.

The Warriors tacked on the final four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Orestimba finished with 12 hits in the contest. The Warriors also received some assistance from Turlock, which committed six errors.

Lily Rocha had five RBIs for the Warriors. She went 3-for-4 with a home run and a double.

Machado had another big day at the plate for the Warriors, as she went 3-for-4 with two doubles.

Belany Martens, along with Warrior teammates Sam Mendoza and Mariah Avila, each had a double.

Turlock (10-14) had six hits. Karley Wool and Audrey Bailey had two hits each for the Bulldogs.

Upcoming games

Orestimba will take a short break from league action to play in the Nor-Cal Tournament in Tracy starting on Thursday. The Warriors will play Stagg of Stockton at 10 a.m. This will be one of four games that they are scheduled to play through Friday.

Then Orestimba returns to TVL action hosting Sonora on Thursday, May 1 at 4 p.m.

Mike Bush is a multimedia journalist who was born and raised in the Stanislaus and Merced County areas. Follow him on X/Twitter @MikeBMultimedia and Instagram @mikebushmedia.

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Senior Lily Rocha of Orestimba is tagged out at the plate during Thursday afternoon action in Escalon as the teams met in Trans-Valley League play. Rocha had a double on the afternoon and the Warriors came away with a 14-8 win. They improved to 4-3 in league with the victory. - photo by MARG JACKSON