F.O. 5, Haggin-Grant 1 (League: 5-1, Overall: 9-2) - June 14 @ Rio Linda High School - Fair Oaks' weekend three-game series got off to a good start as the Oaks defeated Haggin-Grant 5-1 in the first game of a doubleheader.
Matt Blanford dives back into first base in the third inning of Fair Oaks' game against Haggin-Grant at Rio Linda High School.
It was a pitching duel early on as neither team could score despite Fair Oaks loading the bases in the fourth inning.
Fair Oaks pitcher Jim Ott faced the minimum number of batters through three innings despite two hits, allowed a leadoff walk in the fourth before sending Grant down with three straight out and then got the side out in order in the fifth.
Fair Oaks finally got on the board in the top of the sixth as third baseman Eric Archuleta hit a grounder to first that was booted and was moved to second on first baseman Russ Beldi's bunt back to the mound. Second baseman Rick Patel then got a double to center field to score Archuleta and make it a 1-0 game.
Haggin-Grant went down in order again in the bottom of the sixth and the Oaks came back for a 2-0 lead in the seventh.
With one out, right fielder Jason Wilkerson got a hit to center and with Ott at the plate, moved to second on a wild pitch. Ott walked and then Archuleta sent a fly ball to center that allowed Wilkerson to tag and move to third. In the Oaks' patented pickoff play, Ott puposely got picked off first and while in a rundown, Wilkerson headed home. As the throw went home, Ott motored safely to second and Wilkerson slid around the catcher to make it a 2-0 game.
Haggin-Grant came back with a run in the bottom of the inning, but the Oaks scored again in the eighth as Bryan Lynch drew a leadoff walk and then with one out, catcher B.J. Crone slammed the ball over the left field fence to make it a 4-1 game.
The Oaks weren't through, however, facing their fourth pitcher of the day, Matt Blanford reached safely on an error, shortstop Garrett Schoenfelder walked and Wilkerson got a hit to left to load the bases.
Blanford scored on Ott's fly to left to make it a 5-1 Fair Oaks lead.
Neither team made any rumblings the rest of the way and the Oaks recorded a 5-1 victory over Haggin-Grant.
TEAM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
FAIR OAKS
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
3
0
5
11
1
HAGGIN-GRANT
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
5
1
Fair Oaks: Ott and Crone. Top hitters: Crone HR, 2 RBI. Haggin-Grant: Pearson, Gardner (6), Frnaklin (8), Smith (8) and Nelson.
