Oakdale tops East Union in 10, earns share of VOL softball title

Lexi Webb had something to prove.

The talented freshman blamed herself for the only loss on Oakdale’s ledger, a 5-3 defeat at East Union on April 12. In the game, Webb had her hero moment – a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning – erased by a three-run, walk-off homer by Alejandra Rascon.

For weeks, the right-hander used the loss to fuel her workouts and starts. With each pitch, she chased perfection. With each pitch, she visualized Tuesday’s 1-0 win.

Webb turned dream into reality, allowing one hit in five scoreless innings of relief as Oakdale outlasted the Lancers in their season finale.

With one swing in the bottom of the 10th inning, Oakdale (19-1, 13-1) earned a share of the Valley Oak League championship and broke up East Union’s perfect season.

Fresno State-bound twins Kindra and Maddi Hackbarth teamed to plate the game-winning run.

“Coming into today, we weren’t going to let them stay undefeated,” Maddi Hackbarth said. “We knew we deserved half of that title.”

Kindra Hackbarth started the 10th inning on second base, per the international tiebreaker rule, and scored on a sharp one-out single over the third-base bag by Maddi Hackbarth, older by a matter of minutes.

“I was waiting for a pitch that would come into the zone, but not too low,” Maddi Hackbarth said. “I was looking for a base hit. She’s a really smart baserunner and really fast, so she was going to score on a base hit. Even if it wasn't really, really hard hit, she still would have scored.”

Kindra Hackbarth never broke stride around third and scored with a slide.

East Union (21-1, 13-1) tried to catch the speedy leadoff hitter, but the relay throw was wide, triggering a red-and-gold celebration at home plate.

The loss snapped the Lancers’ season-long 21-game winning streak and its 27-game league winning streak.

With a fistful of bubble gum and optimism on his breath, East Union softball coach Brian Goulart put the loss in perspective.

The Lancers were shorthanded and playing out of position, yet still forced a Sac-Joaquin Section title contender to work overtime for the win.

“We’re not sweating this one,” said Goulart, who lost All-America shortstop Sam Owen to an ankle injury Monday and was forced to shuffle his infield. “Let’s be honest, those guys were over there hoping and praying they would beat us 1-0 because that would give them a taste of the title.

“We already had the championship in the bag. I think we played with excellent energy and an understanding of where we are in the pecking order. We clinched it (Monday).”

East Union and Oakdale split the season series and could meet again late in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.

Without Owen, who braced herself on crutches in the dugout, the Lancers failed to produce the big hit Tuesday.

East Union wasn’t lacking for chances, though.

Taylor Ward was 2 for 4 and drove a double off the wall in center field in the first inning. Izabella Owen and Allison Tajii also singled for the Lancers, 0-5 with runners in scoring position.

“We had some chances,” said Goulart. “It was one of those classic games where one run makes all the difference. They got the big hit and we didn’t.”

Oakdale had six hits and was paced by sophomore Grace Green, who went 3 for 5 and logged five scoreless innings. She turned the ball over to Webb, who earned her team-best seventh win and exorcised demons in the process.

Webb welcomed the opportunity to atone for her mistake.

“She threw a great game there, except for one pitch,” Oakdale coach Larry Loger said. “For her to come in here, under all that pressure, as a freshman, she showed why we’ve been waiting for her since she was 5 years old.”

Webb allowed one hit over the final five innings and struck out the side in the top of the 10th.

She finished with eight strikeouts, including a three-pitch punchout of Rascon in the sixth.

“I was pretty bummed and disappointed” after the first game, said Webb, a right-handed spin specialist, “but then I thought, ‘Well, this is my chance to shine next game.’

“I wanted to pitch this game. I wanted to get in. I’ve been working on the stuff that I messed up on and it worked today. I was hitting my spots better.”

Goulart said Owen (.561 batting average, team-high 10 doubles) will be healthy for the start of the playoffs, which begin Monday across seven divisions.

“I’ll take my defense and pitchers against anybody at full strength,” Goulart said. “Nobody else can beat us but them. When we get Sam Owen back, I like our edge.”

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 10:03 PM with the headline "Oakdale tops East Union in 10, earns share of VOL softball title."