By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Orestimba softball’s season playoff run ends
Karina Gonzalez
Orestimba batter Karina Gonzalez watches a pitch going over the plate in a CIF SJS Softball Playoffs - Division V game at Casa Roble on May 19. - photo by Mike Bush

ORANGEVALE – One more win was all the Orestimba High softball team needed to advance to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section – Division V title game.

Orestimba, the No. 8 seed, made the trek to the east side of Sacramento County to play No. 5 seed Casa Roble High’s squad in a semifinal game. The Warriors and Rams were knotted 1-1 after the first inning.

After both teams scored a run each after the opening inning, Orestimba was unable to generate additional runs. But Casa Roble was able to score some more runs and produced a 4-1 win on May 19.

The playoff run ends for Orestimba, which finished its season with a 19-11 overall record and a fourth-place finish in the Trans-Valley League.

Natalie Corella got the ball to roll for the Warriors in the top of the first inning with a single. She stole second and third bases, and scored the team’s only run when Salece Machado singled.

“We got off to a quick start,” said Orestimba head coach Joaquin Marroquin of the playoff game.

The Rams scored their first run in the bottom of the inning for a 1-1 score.

Casa Roble took the lead for good in the second frame with another run for a 2-1 advantage.

Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth. That is when the Rams tacked on two more runs to secure the win and advanced to the D-V title game against the Warriors’ TVL rival in No. 7 Escalon, which beat No. 3 Sutter by a 7-6 score in the other semifinal game.

Escalon made the TVL proud by beating the Rams by a 5-1 score at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento on Saturday.

Orestimba only had six hits in the game. Machado, who is only a sophomore, and Victoria Silva, a freshman, each had two hits. Corella and Aryanna Arreguin each had one hit.

What hurt the Warriors was stranding six runners on the base paths.

Casa Roble finished with nine hits in the game. Payton Richards had a big game for the Rams, going 4-for-4 at the plate, including an RBI and a double. Gianni Giannini produced two hits.

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.