Oak Ridge High's varsity softball coach Sam Kloczko knows the Delta River League will be competitive once again this season. With perennial powers Sheldon, St. Francis and last year's winner Pleasant Grove, there aren't many easy games.

Kloczko has the Lady Trojans playing good softball early in the season. The team enters Tuesday's scheduled game with Sheldon with a 10-2-1 record, including a 15-1 win over Folsom Thursday in the league opener.

"I'm happy with our record right now, although I don't like the loss to Cosumnes Oaks, but they outplayed us and outcoached us that day," Kloczko. "We're right where we want to be entering league. It's a matter of who's hot and who peaks because there are five teams that could win the league."

Oak Ridge's hot start can be attributed to a balanced attack. Alyssa Burns has been doing the job on the rubber, while the defense behind her has been solid. Offensively, the team has been scoring runs and getting hits at the right time.

"Last year, I would have said our offense was our strength, but this year I believe we are a well-rounded, solid team," Kloczko said. "Offensively, everything Caitlyn Olan hits seems to be finding a hole, even when she doesn't hit it well. Lindsey Zito has hit well and so has Amber Orchard."

Zito, Olan and Orchard represented the middle of the order against Folsom, hitting third, fourth and fifth, respectively. The trio had six hits in seven at bats, scored six runs and had six RBIs. Kendall Kelly, a freshman, hit behind Orchard in sixth and had two hits and drove in three runs as well.

"Everybody came into this game with the right attitude and we were ready to play," Kloczko said. "We were aggressive and it was a good team win."...