Fair Oaks 8, Auburn 7 (League: 4-1, Overall: 8-2) - June 12 @ Del Oro High School - Overcoming a 7-4 late-inning deficit, the Fair Oaks Oaks battled back to edge Auburn 8-7 in extra innings at Del Oro High School.
    It was the secnd win of the week for the Oaks, despite the team missing five players due to end-of-year high school senior trips.
Chris Rhines slides into third on a steal attempt during Fair Oaks' game against Auburn at Del Oro High School. Rhines reached base on a walk and moved to second on a hit, but was ruled out on the steal attempt later in the inning.
    The Oaks made the most of what they had, however, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the opening inning as catcher B.J. Crone led off with a high hopper to third that went off the third baseman's glove.
    With one out and shortstop Garrett Schoenfelder at the plate, Crone stole second and the throw got away allowing him to reach third. Schoenfelder then followed with a hit to center field to score Crone and stake starter Adam Moshofsky to a 1-0 lead.
    Moshofsky held Auburn scoreless in the bottom of the first despite two consecutive walks to start the inning. Brandon Olson took over pitching in the second and despite a two out hit and two walks to load the bases, also escaped unscathed.
    Fair Oaks also loaded the bases in the top of the third as Eric Archuleta was hit by a pitch, Schoenfelder walked and first baseman Jim Ott got a hit to left. A double play ended the inning, however, leaving the score at 1-0.
    A two out home run in the bottom of the third tied the game for Auburn, but Fair Oaks came back in the fifth to take a 4-1 advantage.
    Crone led off with a walk, but was eliminated on a bunt by center fielder Matt Blanford as the play went pitcher to second. With Schoenfelder at the plate, Blanford stole second and Schoenfelder drew a walk. Ott followed with a ground ball to short that was booted, allowing blanford to score. The ball was thrown away at third and Schoenfelder also came home.
    The next batter, Archuleta, faced a new Auburn pitcher and promptly doubled to right center to score Ott and make it a 4-1 Fair Oaks lead.
    Auburn touched reliever Russ Beldi for a run in the bottom of the fifth to bring the score to 4-2 and after Beldi gave up a walk to the next batter, Ott came in to pitch and Beldi went to first.
    Ott got the final out of the inning, but then in the sixth, a leadoff walk, wild pitch and an error on a ground ball to third resulted in another Auburn run.
    The next batter slammed a two run homer to right to put Auburn in the lead 5-4 and then a hit batsman and another home run put Auburn up 7-4.
    Ott was replaced on the mound by Schoenfelder, with Rick Patel taking his place at shortstop. Schoenfelder put down the next two batters to end the inning.
    A leadoff walk to Blanford in the top of the seventh prompted another Auburn pitching change, but the Oaks were ready and Schoenfelder faced the new pitcher for a hit up the middle.
    A pair of passed balls with Ott at the plate resulted in Blanford scoring and then a ground ball to first that was booted resulted in Schoenfelder scoring to make it 7-6, with Ott landing safely at first.
    Archuleta followed with a walk resulting in another pitching change and Beldi, the next batter, bunted to advance the runners.
    With two outs and still trailing by a run, the Oaks' Chris Rhines was the next batter. He hit a ball toward the hole at short. Auburn's shortstop made a dive for the ball, but it hit off his glove resulting in a hit and allowing Ott to score the tying run.
    The next batter struck out to end the inning, but the Oaks had new life and Schoenflder put Auburn down in order in the bottom of the inning.
    In Fair Oaks' eighth, Blanford was hit by a pitch with one out and with Schoenfelder at the plate, a balk sent Blanford to second and a wild pitch advanced him to third.
    The wild pitch prompted yet another Auburn pitching change and Schoenfelder grounded out agaisnt the new hurler.
    With Ott at the plate, a passed ball allowed Blanford to score to give the Oaks an 8-7 lead. Ott struck out, as did the next batter, Archuleta, but the Oaks were again on top.
    Schoenfelder allowed only one base runner in the bottom of the inning as an one out error resulted in hope for the Auburn faithful. But two strikeouts later the game was over and the Oaks escaped with an 8-7 win.

TEAM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
FAIR OAKS
1
0
0
0
3
0
3
1
8
7
3
AUBURN
0
0
1
0
1
5
0
0
7
6
4


Fair Oaks: Moshofsky, Olson (2), Beldi (4), Ott (5), Schoenfelder (7) and Crone. Top hitters: Schoenfelder 2x3, 2B; Archuleta 2B.
Auburn: Steinbeck, Tompkins (5), Bartsch (7), Tingy (7), Brown (8) and Rogers. Top hitters: Burgess 2x5, HR, 2RBI; Graham HR; Tompkins HR, 2 RBI.
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