By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Orestimba softball notch two more wins
starr 5-7
Orestimba’s Hailey Starr, pictured here in a previous game, had a home run in the first game against Sonora and struck out six batters while pitching in the second matchup with the Wildcats. - photo by La_lumiere_art_and_photography

NEWMAN, Calif. – Two more Trans-Valley League wins are in the books for the Orestimba High softball team.



Orestimba (6-3 in the TVL, 12-11 overall), in the hunt to claim one of the league’s three playoff berths, will wrap up league play on Tuesday when it hosted Hilmar. 



The Yellowjackets also entered the week vying for a playoff berth, sitting at fourth place behind Orestimba at 4-4 in league and 10-9 overall. Orestimba and Hughson are tied for second place and Ripon sits alone in the top spot at 9-1 and 17-7 overall.



According to the Sac-Joaquin Section’s website – www.cifsjs.org – the TVL and each league in the section will qualify three teams into the playoffs if six or more teams are competing. There are seven schools in the TVL.



Any school not in its league’s top three that is ranked in the top 15 by MaxPreps in their last rankings prior to the selection process will be added to the playoff tournament as an at-large team.



Here is a look at the Warriors’ games last week.



Orestimba 13, Sonora 1



Making the road trip on Friday, the Warriors banged out 18 hits in the game that was called after five innings because of the mercy rule.



Orestimba jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Sonora scored its only run in its first at-bat.



The Warriors added to their final total with six runs in the top of the fourth inning.



Four Orestimba players had three hits each in the contest; Rae Oliveros, Natalie Corella, Sophia Machado and Mariah Avila. Machado and Hailey Starr each had a home run.



Belany Martens went 2-for-4 with two doubles and 2 RBIs. Kaitlin Barron also had two hits and a double.



In the circle, Ellery Gustafson tossed four innings and gave up four hits. She struck out three and walked one Wildcat batter.



Orestimba 10, Sonora 0



The two teams met on the Warriors’ diamond on Thursday in another league game called after five innings because of the mercy rule.



Orestimba had three runners touch home plate in the bottom of the first frame for a 3-0. Then the Warriors added two more in the third and five in the fourth to secure the win.



The Warriors had eight hits in the game. Corella had three of those hits, plus 5 RBIs and a double. Machado finished with two hits.



Starr went 3 1/3 innings in the circle for the Warriors, striking out six and walked one. Gustafson tossed the rest of the game, striking out one and allowed two hits.



Non-league game



After Tuesday’s home game against Hilmar, Orestimba will play at Atwater on Thursday in what would be considered a tune-up non-league game for the upcoming playoffs. Game time is scheduled 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.